Reel Talk
Is the Censor Board making a mistake?

Apr 25, 2007, 11:51

The action of the Censor Board is affecting the future of a young actor's film career.

Jailani is a software engineer from the US. He earns very well, but he is more attracted to the art field than computers. One day he packed his bags and landed in Kodambakkam. He quickly started work on 'Kelvikuri.' He was the hero, producer and director of the film. The heroines were Sona and Preethi Varma.

The film was completed in 17 days and went to the Censor Board. The problems started then. On the premise that the film depicted the police force in poor light, the Censor asked 2 police officers to see the film. When they police officers said they were horrified at the depiction of the police in the film, the Censor Board refused to give the clearance certificate.

What is so terrible in 'Kelvikuri' for such strict action?

Simple! The hero's wife is taken by police for interrogation. There she dies under mysterious circumstances and no satisfactory explanation is given. The angry hero barges into the police commissioner's house and makes hostages of the inmates. He then invites the police officers one by one and takes revenge on them.

People under interrogation missing from police stations, committing suicide by hanging, people dying under mysterious circumstances are all everyday happenings in India. People protesting for justice against such actions of police are also common.

Because it is a film, the hero of 'Kelvikuri' barges into the police commissioner's house and takes revenge on the police officers one by one. Jailani complains that films showing police force in worse light have been cleared, so it was unjust that his film be singled out for this treatment.

That apart, films also criticize lawyers, doctors, lecturers, padres, samiyars, media, eunuchs, heads of religious organisations, politicians and so on. Did the Censor Board invite these people to seek their permission before giving clearance for those films? If the permission of only the people portrayed is necessary, why do we need a Censor Board? Whatever happened to freedom of speech?

These valid points raised by 'Kelvikuri' have to be answered by the Censor Board. The terrible delay in delivering of justice is another injustice. 'Kutrapathrikai' is an example of this.