CBFC Should Be Banned: ‘No Fathers In Kashmir’ Director

Oscar nominated director Ashvin Kumar’s film No Fathers in Kashmir has been through a rough time in the last few months with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) delaying its release. The Quint spoke to Ashvin and the cast members Soni Razdan and Ashuman Jha about making the film, censorship and the people of Kashmir.

Ashvin is livid with the CBFC and said,

“I think they should be banned. I heard you say that. I read an interview today morning where I saw that quote. I think the Censor Board (sic) is a redundant, archaic institution that has no place in the country we live in, which is a free democracy”.

Ashvin Kumar, Director

He added, “I’m making a film about two millennials falling in love and dealing with heartbreak, and for God sake I can’t see what the hell they have a problem with other than the fact that it happens to be set in Kashmir.”

Actor Soni Razdan, who has been actively pushing for the film on social media, agreed with him and said, “I totally agree with Ashvin when he says that the CBFC is redundant today in a day and age when everything is available to you at a click of a button and you can see anything what we are talking about. And we also need to. I don’t even know what they are so frightened about, today the time has come when we need to ask the question - why are the people who are so gentle, well-mannered, so beautiful in their souls, in such a state?”

Ashvin concluded by saying, “The problem is that the Censor Board (sic) couldn’t find out what the hell is objectionable themselves. It went into a schizophrenic moment, and I love it because I have had two of my movies banned, so this time around I am going to fox them.”

He laughed and added, “I’m going to make a movie about a girl who is going to look for her father and now come on, bring it on - what are you going to find objectionable about this?”

Camera: Sanjoy Deb
Assistant Camera: Gautam Sharma
Video Editor: Veeru Krishan Mohan