So now I am responsible for Prof Siras’ death: Pahlaj Nihalani

Censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani responds to Anurag Kashyap’s tweet questioning ‘A’ rating to Aligarh trailer

Even as a section of the Twitterati expressed their outrage against the “A” certification given to the trailer of Aligarh, the CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani seemed to find one particular criticism levelled against him unjust. The tweet in question was by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who had said, “Aligarh trailer has been given the A certificate because the film is about what all the Pahlaj Nihalanis of Aligarh did to one man.”

The sentiment was similar to the one echoed by Aligarh director Hansal Mehta, who told the press at the film’s trailer launch, “When the Censor Board saw the film they asked for certain cuts The film in many ways is about loneliness, relationships, rejection. It’s about a homophobic society. What has happened is the Censor Board is behaving exactly like the people who suspended Prof Siras.”

Responding to Mr Kashyap’s tweet, Pahlaj Nihalani said, “So am I supposed to be in some way responsible for the death of the professor in Aligarh How much more will these filmmakers blame me for Hansal Mehta and his friends forget, homosexuality is unconstitutional in the country. I am not the one who makes the laws. I am asked to follow guidelines. And the guidelines clearly state that all content relating to sexual topics are not to be certified for under-age viewing.”

Mr Nihalani also said that Aligarh’s trailer makes clear and direct references to homosexuality. “The guidelines clearly state that films on homosexuality cannot be certified for children’s viewing. Would Mr Kashyap and Mr Mehta tell me how I can break the law to get approval as a liberal CBFC chairperson Let them take over my job. I’d be glad to let them do what they like with the certification of films.”

Aligarh is based on the life of Prof Ramchandra Siras, who taught at the Aligarh Muslim University. In February 2010, a TV channel crew conducted a "sting operation" in Prof Siras' house when he was engaged in consensual sex with another man. Siras was suspended by the university for "gross misconduct". The professor challenged his suspension in the Allahabad High Court that April, and having won the case, was reinstated. However, within a week, he was found dead in his apartment. Suicide was initially suspected; later, the police arrested six people, citing a case of murder. The case was closed due to lack of sufficient evidence.