Furore Over ‘Anaarkali’ Cuts Is for Publicity: Pahlaj Nihalani

If a filmmaker wants to use the CBFC’s name for publicity, he will have to substantiate his allegation, he said.

Swara Bhaskar in a still from Anaarkali of Aarah.

Following the uproar over CBFC’s suggestion to make 11 cuts in the upcoming Anaarkali of Aarah, the board’s chief Pahlaj Nihalani has slammed its makers for gunning for cheap publicity.

According to a report by DNA, Nihalani said that the Swara Bashkar-starrer has not even been certified yet and all this furore over cuts is nothing but a publicity stunt.

The film has not been censored or certified as yet. We haven’t made any cuts in any film of this name. So where is the question of ‘censored’ scenes being leaked? I call this cost-effective publicity. You make a small-budget film, which needs to get noticed. You concoct censor problems for the film, where there is none. You get loads of media coverage as soon as you speak of your film being banned by the censor board.

Pahlaj Nihalani, CBFC Chief

He also said that if someone accuses CBFC of something, they would have to substantiate their claim and not just rant on social media.

We are tired of our name being dragged down for publicity. You please make your film about Anaarkali from Aarah, Chapra, Rohtak or Rai Bareilly. The CBFC has no interest in playing the party-pooper. If a filmmaker wants to use the CBFC’s name for publicity, he will have to substantiate his allegations. <i>Aise hi</i> Facebook <i>ya </i>Twitter <i>pe gaali dena nahin chalega</i> (just abusing on social networks won’t do).

According to producer Sandip Kapur, the Censor Board has asked for 11 cuts and a few of them to save sentiments from getting hurt.

There are 11 cuts mentioned by the censor board, including one bold scene. They have told us to remove the names of Amitabh Bachchan and Amrish Puri (in a dialogue) fearing it might hurt sentiments... They have also asked to remove the word ‘Arjun’, which comes in a <i>shayari </i>(poem). They think it will hurt religious sentiments. With these cuts it will be difficult for the audience to understand the context in which the dialogues are said.

Sandip Kapur, Producer, <i>Anaarkali of Aarah</i>

The film is set to release on March 24.

(Source: DNA, Hindustan Times)