Ahemdabad: The Gujarati movie based on the ongoing Patel quota agitation in the state, has been denied clearance by the Central Board of Film Certification on the grounds that if released, it may pose a threat to "the integrity and sovereignty of India".
As per reports, the film Salagto Sawaal Anamat (burning question of reservation) will not be released in theatres anymore.
For not giving clearance to the film, the CBFC has used guideline 2(14) of the Cinematograph Act-1952 and Certifi `ome to this cation Rule-1991 to c` decision. The guideline states: "The CBFC shall ensure that the sovereignty and integrity of India is not called into question."
Now the filmmakers may be forced to move court against the CBFC's denial of certification. Giving reasons for denial of certification, the CBFC letter states that the film on Patidar quota stir consists of "visuals or words which promote communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific and anti-national attitude.''
The CBFC letter also states that the movie shows "visuals or words contemptuous of racial, religious or other groups" and that `the security of the State is jeopardized."
The director of the film Rajesh Gohil told the leading daily that the CBFC feels that the movie violates guidelines 2(xii), 2(xiii), 2 (xiv) and 2(xv) of the Cinematograph Act-1952 and Certification Rule -1991.
Gohil said that the Board has also asked the makers to cut “sensitive shots and remove the word Patidar from each and every scene apart from removing references of Dr. Ambedkar.”
The CBFC has also found issues with the film's dialogues which it said are against B R Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution.
Gohil further added that if they had edited the film the way the CBFC wanted then the length of film would have been reduced to 80 minutes from the current 150 minutes.
"This is an injustice done to a Gujarati film and the board has hurt 'Gujarati Asmita'," Gohil said.
"We recently received reply from CBFC in which it said that the movie is based on Hardik Patel and he is imprisoned and a case is going on against him because of law and order problem," the director had earlier said.
He further said, "Our film is not based on Hardik Patel's life. We have based the film on the Patidar reservation agitation, but it is not based on Hardik Patel, this is what we have said."
"The Censor Board, it appears, has little knowledge of Gujarati language, because it says the dialogues are against Babasaheb Ambedkar. But this is not the case. If listened properly, there is just one reference where a character says that Ambedkar framed reservation in Indian Constitution," said Mobin Khan, who plays the lead role in the film.
The makers said they started making the film less than a month after the Patidar agitation at Ahmedabad's GMDC ground last year, and submitted it for certification with the CBFC around two months back.
As per reports, the film was scheduled for release on June 17 on the same day as 'Udta Punjab'.
