Buoyed by the court verdict in favour of his film Udta Punjab, co-producer Anurag Kashyap on Tuesday sought not only Pahlaj Nihalani’s removal but also a overhaul of CBFC even as the censor board chie
Buoyed by the court verdict in favour of his film Udta Punjab, co-producer Anurag Kashyap on Tuesday sought not only Pahlaj Nihalani’s removal but also a overhaul of CBFC even as the censor board chief, who is at the centre of the storm, insisted he acted according to the rule book.
The Bombay high court on Monday cleared the drug-themed drama with one cut and a revised disclaimer against the board’s demands for multiple cuts.
“We have a humongous problem with Mr Nihalani but if he goes who will come What’s the guarantee that if someone comes, he will not interpret the Cinematograph Act and the law the same way, or may be worse or better. The system needs overhaul. It is not just (Mr) Nihalani, who needs to be replaced, which we want,” he said here.
Mr Nihalani also addressed the media where he appeared somewhat subdued as he called the high court’s judgment a victory for democracy.
“We welcome the court’s decision. I congratulate the producers on their win. They will obviously go to a place where they can get relief. It’s their right,” he said.
However, he denied the judgement was a setback for the board, which has been attracting a lot of controversies since he took over as its chief in 2015.
“It’s not about anyone’s victory or defeat. Be it CBFC, Income Tax or any other department, people can appeal a higher authority against the order. This is a democracy and if people don’t even have this right then anything can happen,” Mr Nihalani said.
“I was doing my duty. I will continue to do that as per the rules that are given to us. It is not a setback,” he said.
Mr Kashyap was at the forefront of the fight against the board, which had asked for multiple cuts in the Abhishek Chaubey-directed drama.
