Director moves court over blocking of film on 1946 riot

KOLKATA: Director Milan Bhowmik has moved Calcuatta high court against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), alleging that the panel has not cleared his film "Danga The Great Calcutta Killing of 1946" because BJP is at the helm of affairs at the Centre. The film portrays the communal riot that hit Kolkata on August 16, 1946.
"The BJP leadership is not ready to give any scope to its opposition parties to stage any movement against them and hence the movie has not been cleared.This is a political move. People at the helm of CBFC are largely being controlled by the political parties. They hardly have any sense of movies," Bhowmik said in a press conference in Jalpaiguri on Wednesday . In Bhowmik's film, Bhartiya Jana Sangh founder Shyamaprasad Mukherjee has been played by BJP member and FTII chairman Gajendra Chauhan. "Had there been any other government at the Centre, our film would have been cleared. On September 9, we were sent a refusal letter that cited polarization as the prime cause of rejection. The CBFC also said that we have dishonoured Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Md Jinnah. We are moving Calcutta high court on Friday ," Bhowmik had said, adding that he would also oppose any cuts in the movie.
Chauhan, however, didn't buy Bhowmik's argument. "That's his personal view.This is a special film based on the historical happenings in the country before our Independence. If the members of CBFC who were present at the screening were not aware of these happenings, they could have included somebody from outside who is in the know. But I don't think CBFC took the pains to do that."
CBFC members have a different take on the issue. Agnimitra Paul, a member of CBFC, admitted having watched the Bengali version of the film at the CBFC's Kolkata office.
"There are too many sensitive portions. Derogatory comments were made on Ja waharlal Nehru. There are lines where Jinnah has made comments on Nehru's personal life. Suhrawardi has also been showed in a very negative light. The treatment of the film is such that it can spark another riot. We had referred the film to Mumbai. Now, we hear they too have rejected the movie. He should approach the tribunal."
Another CBFC member, actor and BJP leader George Baker, added: "I have been told that it is a movie which has clearly shown Hindu-Muslim riots. The director has my sympathies. But as a citizen of the country , I can say he is only using the good offices of Gajendra Chauhan. The filmmaker should have been more sensible in his script. Chauhan should have been more circumspect too."
Bhowmick refuted claims that he is making a hue-and-cry to get publicity. "Instead of approaching the tribunal, I directly moved court. I can't be sitting endlessly for CBFC to clear my film. I am spending a lot of money to move court. Who would want to spend so much to get publicity?"