Pahlaj Nihalani repairs leaks

After censor copies of 'Sairat', 'Udta Punjab' and 'Great Grand Masti' unceremoniously turned up online for free downloads, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chief Pahlaj Nihalani has devised a mechanism to safeguard future films that are submitted to the board for clearance.
In the preceding months, while a censor print of Nagraj Manjule's 'Sairat' surfaced online only after the film gained momentum at the box office, Abhishek Chaubey's controversial drugs-drama, Udta Punjab, and Indra Kumar's 'Great Grand Masti' were leaked even before the films' theatrical release.The Riteish Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani, Vivek Oberoi-starrer adult comedy that was slated to release on July 22 had to be pushed earlier to July 15 to minimise the impact at the box-office.
Filmmaker NR Pachisia, General Secretary, Governing Committee of the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), pointed out to Mirror that piracy and DVD leaks are rampant down South too. Recently, Suriya-starrer sci-fi drama, 24, was leaked from a private viewing room in Bangalore.
'Censor copy leaks have led to a fear of losing money among filmmakers.While it may have had only a minor effect on Udta Punjab, it damaged Ekta Kapoor's Great Grand Masti. Piracy really kills,' Pachisia asserts, adding, that today, the CBFC has the necessary digital aid to safeguard the filmmakers' rights.
'It is not just the producers losing money but also the Central Government, which loses crores in entertainment tax because of piracy,' Pachisia added.
IFTPC President Sajid Nadiadwala, Vice Presidents Ramesh Taurani and Ratan Jain, and members Harry Baweja and JD Majethia have welcomed this move.
Filmmaker Vijay Galani, member of IFTPC's Governing Council, said, 'It is now mandatory for all producers to submit their film for certification only via DCP. The CBFC chief will accept no other forms of communication. This stance has been appreciated by the IFTPC. There are huge costs involved and we are reducing the number of people who will have access to the final print before release.DCP leaves no scope for mischief.'
The CBFC, with the approval of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, has already sent out letters instructing the film fraternity to share their films only through DCP. The process should be fully enforced by September 1.