A recent tabloid report stating that Imtiaz Ali's Highway has been denied a Doordarshan telecast because of its depiction of child abuse, has caused quite a furore in the Censor Board.
While a source reveals that CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) chief Pahlaj Nihlani had personally intervened and cleared the film (with a U certificate), CBFC CEO Shravan Kumar gives the official version of facts pertaining to the certification controversy.
“Doordarshan has its own elaborate guidelines for telecasting content, which are issued by them from time to time and therefore it is not a factually correct statement to say that 'the (censor) board has deemed the film unsuitable for screening on Doordarshan...' as stated in the tabloid report", he explains.
The source adds, “It’s not official yet but Nihlani has passed the film to be telecast on Doordarshan without any cuts with a ‘U’ certificate while it was released theatrically with a 'A' certificate.”
CBFC's role is limited to certification of a film, which is done according to the procedure of going through Examining Committee, Revising Committee and appeal through FCAT.
In case of Highway, the film had already got a certificate of U/A from CBFC.
The producer submitted a fresh request of certification after effecting certain excision/modifications.
The Examining Committee did not find it suitable for granting a U certificate.
Therefore, it was referred to a Revising Committee. Screening before said committee was held on March 27 and there was a difference of opinion.
Now, the Chairman has to make the decision official.
Image: Alia Bhatt in Highway
