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'Grow Up Censor Board': Social Media Outrage After 'Aligarh' Trailer Gets 'A' Certificate

'Grow Up Censor Board': Social Media Outrage After 'Aligarh' Trailer Gets 'A' Certificate
Movie poster

The Censor Board’s decision to give the trailer of ‘Aligarh’ an A-rated certificate has angered director Hansal Mehta, who has referred to the Board members as a ‘homophobic society’ who have severely hindered his efforts to publicise the film.

The adult certificate given to our trailer means that the trailer will only be shown with other ‘A’ rated films in the theatre,” said Mehta at the trailer launch yesterday, also expressing that he was only showing the trailer in anger and protest.

ALSO READ: The Trailer Of 'Aligarh' And Manoj Bajpai's Poignant Performance In It

“We have only one month before the film release. It is an important film which talks about loneliness, relationship and homophobic society. The censor is behaving exactly like those people who suspended Professor Shiras in the movie. They are behaving like a homophobic society. You are breaking the back of a smaller film and making us run from pillar to post,” said a visibly-upset Mehta who claimed he would now have to spend the remaining time trying to resolve the censor issue instead of promoting his film.

Is there anything in the #Aligarh trailer to warrant an A certificate? Am I wrong in being very very angry at CBFC ? https://t.co/qOQx5NwhrE

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 29, 2016

Questioning how homosexuality could possibly be an adult concept, Mehta called the Censor Board’s ruling ‘ridiculous’ and has contested their decision to delete a few scenes, including Manoj Bajpai who plays Professor Shiras dozing off in court.

The ‘Tevar’ actor was also not happy with the decision: "I didn't understand first that a trailer gets an A certificate. Digitally, if we see, there are many products which need to get an A certificate. We are all taken aback. Hansal has said the right thing. Censor needs to be revamped. I feel Censor shouldn't be there."

So, what does the 'A' certificate for the trailer means?

The trailer can only be played with an 'Adult' film and that it will not be played on TV all day and it will only appear at night.

A Facebook post by Apurva M Asrani, the screenplay writer of the movie went viral today, as people took to questioning the relevance of the ‘A-rated’ certificate for the film.

In the post, Asrani asked people to come out and voice their protest if they think the trailer deserves a U or UA certificate.

Do you know that 'Aligarh' trailer has been given an 'A' certificate?? This means that the theatrical trailer can only...

Posted by Apurva M Asrani on Thursday, 28 January 2016

Back #Aligarh by @mehtahansal and the incredibly talented @BajpayeeManoj. Dont make it a restricted watch. Everyone needs to see such films.

— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) January 29, 2016

Why did Censor board gave A certificate to Aligarh's trailer??? Have they gone mad??Just coz its based on homosexual professor, PATHETIC

— TANYA (@TANYA33363042) January 29, 2016

I don't understand why Aligarh is given an A certificate, there is no obscenity in the trailer atleast ryt? CBFC pls grow up #Aligarh

— Manoj Eega (@MANOJ_EEGA) January 29, 2016

chutiyaap continues https://t.co/SFswB5QXrg

— Tanmay Bhat (@thetanmay) January 29, 2016

WHAT? Aligarh trailer gets 'A' certificate? Itne bure din aagaye? People support the film though. It is a must watch @mehtahansal

— Ahad Gilani (@Ahadgilz) January 29, 2016

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.