Gajendra Chauhan should have been more circumspect: George Baker

KOLKATA: Actor and BJP leader George Baker has lashed out at director Milan Bhowmick's attempts to get publicity by using the censor certification row surrounding his film titled 'Danga The Riot' starring Gajendra Chauhan in the role of Shyamaprasad Mukherjee.
Baker, who is a member of Central Board of Film Certification, said, "I have been told that it is a movie which has clearly shown Hindu-Muslim riots.I feel we should avoid such a situation. The director has my sympathies. But as a citizen of the country, I can say that he is only using the good offices of Gajendra Chauhan. The film-maker should have been more sensible with his script."
According to Baker, the director should act as a "sensible film-maker" and not try to get mileage out of this film by using the freedom of expression argument. "This runs the risk of creating communal tension. It is all right to talk about the pre-independence period where the British were killing Indians. That included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Anglo Indians, among others. If you make a film about Hindu-Muslim riots today and then quote freedom of expression while trying to appeal to sentiments to those who may be illiterate, it can create communal tension," Baker pointed out.
Baker rubbished Bhowmick's claim that this film was stalled by the CBFC because the BJP leadership didn't want to give the Opposition any scope to stage any movement against it. "He is trying to garner publicity by using the people of BJP and name of BJP. I have nothing against the use of the name of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. If there is anything to the film which is harmful to the sentiments of Hindus and Muslims, it should be avoided," Baker said.
On being asked about the role of Chauhan in taking up such a project, Baker said, "He should have been more circumspect."