Anushka Sharma must have had a great weekend, what with her new film NH10 opening to rave reviews and her performance being appreciated universally. It looks like the film is on its way to being a hit; its opening day collections have surpassed those of similar actress-centric films such as Kahaani (2012) and Queen (2014).
Prior to the film's release, however, Sharma was reportedly having a tough time. Numerous reports spoke about the number of cuts that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was looking to impose upon the movie (it eventually got 9 and an 'A' certificate). An internal dispute about the cuts in the film now threatens to tear apart the body, as evidenced by this leaked email.
Adding to the inner turmoil of the CBFC, perhaps, is the fact that Sharma, who is also one of the producers of NH10 , has been very vocal about how she feels about censorship. Below are five occasions in which she spoke out with a kind of conviction and honesty that is, frankly, refreshing in an industry that tends to stay on the right (read: wrong) side of the politically correct line.
Yeah… because ultimately you are making a film which is an honest rendition of something that exists in our society, and there is no glorification of anything that can be objectionable.On being asked whether the censor troubles that NH10 went through worried her, as one of the producers of the film.
There is rage. And that is the other thing. Our rage doesn’t unleash itself because we follow the system – judiciary, police etc. So our rage is directed at the systems that don’t work. We all talk about freedom of speech and having opinions. But what is happening is that there is moral policing and people saying that I am so convinced about my opinion that I will be pissed off if you don’t agree with me. That is why we are talking about bans, and taking out material from films.On why she thinks 'moral policing' occurs in India
I just think there is just complete lack of compassion. When you make a film and you are told to reduce the violence. What is happening in real life is much more brutal. What we are making is much milder, and then you tell us to reduce by 30 percent? What does that mean? How do you do that?On how she feels about the Censor Board's approach to cuts.
Now I know when we are reading a script or making a movie, we are going to think “Is this going to get passed?” And that’s not how you want to make movies.On how she feels rigid censorship will affect cinema
We are breeding a 'ban mentality'. You are irritating people to the degree that it's suffocating them. We are educated people, we know what's right and what's not. Let us think for ourselves than follow a particular ideology.When asked to describe the current climate of censorship in India
Believe in the certification. It's there for a reason. Films depict what's there in reality.On how she would like audiences to approach movies