Free Speech Tracker

List of Incidents in Maharashtra -> Censorship -> 2013
Anurag Kashyap petition on 'No Smoking' disclaimer
Ref: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-11-26/news-interviews/44485400_1_censor-board-actor-smoking-petition
Mumbai, Maharashtra

Director Anurag Kashyap has filed a petition in Bombay High Court against the Censor Board for their objection to his refusal to add the anti-smoking disclaimer in his upcoming film 'Ugly'.

The Censor Board had asked Kashyap to carry the warning against smoking in all the scenes in which the film's characters have been shown smoking, to which the director has said no. Anurag refused to do so and decided to file a petition against the Censor Board.


According to the censor board, any film which has scenes of actor smoking should carry the warning 'Smoking is injurious to health'.
In his petition submitted in the Bombay High Court, Anurag has said, "This clearly restraints the rights of filmmakers to freedom of speech and expression. This warning destroys the aesthetic value of a film and distracts audience from the movie thus ruining the experience of watching a film."

According to Anurag it's the Health Ministry that should take the responsibility of curbing use of tobacco and work towards measures to control it and that films should not be a medium to advertise non-smoking.

The filmmaker is challenging the order and has refused to accept the pre-condition of adding an anti-smoking disclaimer. Then production house is also backing him in this move of his.