CBFC under Prasoon Joshi has disgraced itself by surrendering over the song in Pathaan movie

The Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC’s) advice to the makers of upcoming film Pathaan that they should carry out a few changes in the film, including in its songs, is an abject capitulation to the whims and fancies of the enemies of freedom of expression. The mission statement of the statutory body says that it is mandated to, among other things: ensure healthy entertainment, recreation and education to the public; make the certification process transparent and responsible; and develop the CBFC as a centre of excellence. All this is possible only if creative freedom is ensured, which the panel has miserably failed to do. Indeed the CBFC under Prasoon Joshi has disgraced itself by surrendering to the tetchy, whose sentiments are hurt by anything — from the countenance of Ravan to the colour of Deepika Padukone’s attire. The sanskaris raised a stink over her dress in a Pathaan film song. Explaining his meek surrender to the Hindutva hotheads, Joshi said that the CBFC is committed to finding “the right balance between creative expression and sensibility of the audience.” He said that such a solution could be found through “meaningful dialogue between all stakeholders.” Shorn of twaddle, it means: submission to the sanskari inquisition is the right balance. Just because some self-proclaimed champions of morals and of Hinduism say that a film or a song hurts their sentiments and religious feelings, a statutory panel shamelessly bows to them without the application of mind.

The Joshi-headed CBFC’s submission is so sickening that even his predecessor, ex-CBFC Pahlaj Nihalani, has come out in defence of the movie. He has rightly pointed out about the absence of any guideline specifying the excision of a colour. You can suggest changes, he said, if there’s vulgarity or obscenity, but if the cuts are because of colour, it would be wrong. “Pathaan is a victim of controversy.” Come to think of it: Nihalani was known as a sanskari censor who, as CBFC chief, was extremely prudish. When Joshi succeeded Nihalani, many thought that it was a change for the better, for the current incumbent is known for his sugary, inspirational songs. But change in our times is always for the worse; Joshi’s capitulation is a testimony to this unsettling truth. Nihalani, who knows about the functioning of the CBFC, has further claimed that Joshi has been pressured by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry. This is quite possible, given the clout the Sangh Parivar enjoys in the current dispensation; some super-moraliser might have pestered the Ministry to ‘advise’ the CBFC to look into the matter (that is, force the filmmakers to change the song). The CBFC, in turn, ‘advised’ the filmmakers to do the same. The Ministry and the garrulous saffron commissars ought to answer a simple question: is this how India will grow as a soft power? The fact is that soft power presupposes free speech, which saffronites are undermining.