Not So Sanskari: Films Affected by Pahlaj Nihalani’s Interference

Good riddance for Bollywood?

Pahlaj Nihalani with his favourite tool? (Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

The controversial Central Board of Film Certification chief Pahlaj Nihalani was shown the door on Wednesday. He is reportedly being replaced by lyricist and screenwriter Prasoon Joshi. Nihalani got an infamous reputation for his bizarre cuts and certification he has given to films. The latest victim of Nihalani’s cuts is the critically acclaimed film Lipstick Under My Burkha. Here are a few more movies that had to go through Nihalani’s ‘cut’ before they were FINALLY approved.

1. Lipstick Under My Burkha

Lipstick Under My Burkha fought a long and hard battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to get their film in theatres. The film was refused certification for being too ‘lady-oriented’. But guess what? The film managed to cross the Rs 10 crore mark at the box-office in its first week, and is still doing wonders.

2. Udta Punjab

Nihalani was in the eye of the storm after suggesting a very large number of cuts in Udta Punjab.

3. Befikre

Nihalani also objected to gay couples kissing in the Befikre song Labon Ka Karobaar. The official video of the song, which came out long before the film’s release, showed at least two gay couples kissing.

Yes, we have removed the gay kiss from the first song in <i>Befikre</i>. The whole song is about various couples of different ages kissing all over Paris. We felt the gay kiss would not be acceptable to all the viewers.

Pahlaj Nihalani

4. Jab Harry Met Sejal

Pahlaj Nihalani had challenged the common people, asking them to give 1 lakh votes, so as to clear the word 'intercourse' from Jab Harry Met Sejal trailer. A week later Nihalani lost the bet and had nothing to say when he was approached by the media.

They’ve uploaded the uncut trailer on YouTube. The CBFC cannot stop content on the internet. But we can and will stop the broadcast of the uncensored footage on television.

Pahlaj Nihalani

5. Phullu

New director Abhishek Saxena’s Phullu was given an ‘A’ certificate, making the film’s cast and crew rather angry. Team Phullu felt that the film’s message around menstruation and sanitary napkins needs to be seen by the young, as well as the old. But censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani felt otherwise.

6. Anaarkali of Aarah

Swara Bhaskar in a still from Anaarkali of Aarah. (Photo: Poster)

In an open letter to Pahlaj Nihalani, Anaarkali of Aarah’s lead actor Swara Bhaskar had written that she felt ‘victimised’ because of the endless cuts.

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).&nbsp; They think it will hurt religious sentiments.&nbsp;

Sandip Kapur, Producer, Anaarkali of Aarah

7. Dum Laga Ke Haisha

The makers of Dum Laga Ke Haisha were asked to change the word Haramkhor to kathor. The other words which were used as replacements in the film are thenga (for ghanta), chhichoripana (for haramipana) and galli ke pille (for haram ke pille).

8. Angry Indian Goddesses

The censor board demanded that some scenes and a few dialogues be cut from the Angry Indian Goddesses. The dialogues referring to the "Indian figure" were removed, references to the government were also cut, and the images of Indian goddesses were asked to be blurred. The film's official Facebook page includes every single scene edited out of the film.

9. The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book directed by Jon Favreau and starring 10-year-old actor Neel Sethi was deemed 'scary' for children by Pahlaj Nihalani.

The CBFC has given a 'U/A' rating to the film, which means that children will be able to watch the film only under adult supervision.

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