While the Censor Board or CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) has earned a notorious reputation for suggesting arbitrary cuts in films, much to the annoyance of the film fraternity, here's case nobody would have anticipated.
The Pahlaj Nihalani-led Board demanded a shot showing a woman's bra to be removed from the upcoming Sidharth Malhotra-Katrina Kaif-starrer time-travel drama Baar Baar Dekho before granting it a 'U/A' certificate, dna reported.
The reason? The Examining Committee found it 'offensive.'
Yes, the EC of CBFC found bras, essential innerwear for women, offensive. Just like that.
The Board also wanted a reference to comic-book porno Savita Bhabi deleted.
Understandably, the makers of Baar Baar Dekho -- producers Karan Johar and Ritesh Sidhwani and debutante director Nitya Mehra were aghast.
But with only a week to go until the film's release, the film's team had no option but to succumb to the Board's senseless diktat.
Quoting a source, dna said, "We don't live in times where women's innerwear is never spoken of in public. In fact, even as late as 1995, there was a scene featuring Kajol in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Moreover, BBD is directed by a woman (Nitya Mehra). To assume she'd use the lingerie scene for titillation is absurd."
This is not the first time the Board has found itself being in the news for the wrong reasons. In June this year, the CBFC imposed as many as 89 cuts on Abhishek Chaubey's Udta Punjab, a decision that was dismissed by the Bombay High Court after a petition was filed there by the producers.
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