CBFC Cuts Words like ‘Pradhan Mantri’ & ‘Chaiwala’ from Murderbaad
The Indian film industry has always been no stranger to the scrutiny of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). With a plethora of films being released every year, the CBFC plays a crucial role in ensuring that the content being shown to the audience is suitable for all ages and backgrounds. However, in recent times, the CBFC has been facing criticism for being overly cautious and removing words and phrases that are deemed to be “sensitive” or “offensive”.
The latest example of this is the film ‘Murderbaad’, which has been instructed by the CBFC to edit out words such as ‘pradhan mantri’ (prime minister) and ‘chaiwala’ (tea seller) from a dialogue. The film’s director, Arnab Chatterjee, has come out in defense of the film, stating that the words were used in a benign and aspirational context, and not meant to be political.
According to reports, the CBFC had asked the makers of ‘Murderbaad’ to make changes to the dialogue in question, which was a conversation between two characters discussing their aspirations and goals. The characters were jokingly referring to themselves as a “pradhan mantri” and “chaiwala”, respectively, as a way of poking fun at their humble backgrounds and expressing their desire to rise above their circumstances.
Despite the film’s director assuring the CBFC that the words were used in a harmless and non-political context, the certification body still insisted on removing them. Chatterjee has expressed his disappointment and frustration at the CBFC’s decision, stating that the words were an integral part of the dialogue and the film’s narrative.
The CBFC’s decision to censor the words “pradhan mantri” and “chaiwala” raises questions about what constitutes “acceptable” language in Indian cinema. The words in question are commonly used in everyday conversation in India, and their removal can be seen as an attempt to sanitize the language and tone down the characters’ personalities.
Furthermore, the CBFC’s decision can be seen as an example of the body’s tendency to overstep its boundaries and impose its own moral and cultural standards on filmmakers. While the CBFC has a duty to ensure that films are suitable for all audiences, its decisions should not be based on personal interpretation or bias, but rather on a clear understanding of the film’s context and content.
It is worth noting that the CBFC has granted ‘Murderbaad’ an ‘A’ certification, which means that the film is suitable for audiences aged 18 and above. This raises questions about the board’s consistency in its decision-making process, as the film is still subject to certain cuts and edits despite being classified as an adult film.
In conclusion, the CBFC’s decision to remove words like “pradhan mantri” and “chaiwala” from ‘Murderbaad’ is a disappointing and unnecessary move that highlights the body’s tendency to overstep its boundaries and impose its own moral and cultural standards on filmmakers. While the CBFC has a duty to ensure that films are suitable for all audiences, its decisions should be based on a clear understanding of the film’s context and content, rather than personal interpretation or bias.
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