Film director Madhur Bhandarkar is upset with the censor board for issuing an A certificate to his film Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji which hits theatres on January 28.
Bhandarkar told TOI, "Once again I lose my audience between the 15 to 18 age group. I feel the film was meant for the growing youth but the censor board has deprived me of that chance."
Four members of the examining committee watched the film and suggested an A certificate. Bhandarkar said, "I refused to take the certificate and took my film to the revising committee. An eight-member team suggested 14 cuts in the film if I wanted an UA certificate. I insisted on an UA certificate so that youngsters can watch the film under parental guidance. I told them about several films which had far more adult content but were issued an U certificate. I told them reality TV shows have vulgar content and people watch them in their drawing rooms."
Pankaja Thakur, censor board CEO, said, "TV content is not our responsibility. The panel felt that the theme of the film is not fit for family viewing. Madhur and his producer had a long discussion with the members but they were not convinced. The members felt the film was good but the sexual references and contexts in it are meant for an adult audience."
Bhandarkar said his movie Fashion was issued an A certificate while a film like Ghajini, which had many violent scenes, was granted a U certificate.
Director Mahesh Bhatt, who has faced several problems with the censor board in the past over erotic content in his films said, "If the film-maker believes that he deserves a U certificate, he must be ready to fight with the CBFC but for that you need time. We must make sure we take our films to the censors in advance when we have bold content. This will give you the opportunity to argue the case right up to the tribunal. It is natural for a director to feel that the others get away with a lot more. Sometimes this is true but most of the times it is our persecution complex which makes us say that. Every human institution has its flaws. The CBFC is no exception."