Padmavati in UK: Former CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani claims it’s illegal to export film before certification

Mumbai: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati which has been in the eye of the storm in the country owing to its historical content has got a clearance from the British censor board despite being deferred in India. The film hasn’t been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India yet. Interestingly, the film which was slated to release on December 1 here, will now be screened on the same day in the UK.

However, former CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani, who always found himself in the middle of controversies, has claimed that it is illegal to export a film before getting clearance in India.

Nihalani, during an interview with Time Now said, “First of all he (probably referring to Sanjay Leela Bhansali) cannot export the film and get the certificate before certification in India. Because after the clearance only one can export the film. He has done it. It is illegal. As CBFC Chairman, I have in the past taken action against 2-3 producers. The government will come to know and I think he will face the tune of the legal action.”

Following massive protests, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the studio behind Padmavati, on November 19, announced in a statement that they were voluntarily deferring the release of the film out of "respect and regard for the law of the land" including the Central Board of Film Certification".

They said a new release date will be announced once the "requisite clearances" are in place.

Official Media Statement on @FilmPadmavati. pic.twitter.com/dlq9TIpDow — Viacom18 (@viacom18) 19 November 2017

CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi on November 20, said that the board should be given adequate time to come up with a balanced decision about the movie.

A source in the CBFC on Monday echoed Joshi's views.

"In CBFC, 68 days is the maximum time (to certify a film), it can be less also. We normally do it in a month or over a month's time (certification). With a film like this, you need to be careful, take opinions, so it takes a little bit of time. It does not mean that nothing will happen before 68 days. If they (makers) want a certificate on time, it is advisable that they take this much time in consideration," the source said.

The CBFC had initially returned the application to the makers of Padmavati, saying it was incomplete. The makers have re-applied.

The source said: "We have followed the normal process. Once the application comes to us, we scrutinise it. In this case, it was incomplete so we returned it. There was no disclaimer (that it is a work of fiction)... Which is required for a film like this."

"If the application is proper, we give them a date for the screening. We have an examining committee which will see the film. We will also have historical experts (for the screening of the film)... We are just following the procedure," the source added.

When asked if the new application has been scrutinised, the source at the CBFC said, "No, it takes time as we have other films (to certify) as well and 'Padmavati' is just one of them. We have a limited staff, we can't just dump everything aside and concentrate on this. It will take the normal time."

(With PTI inputs)