Mumbai: The censor board has clamped down heavily on the dialogues and visuals of Priyadarshan`s "Aakrosh", a film on honour killing. The director says he would neither accept cuts nor the A-certificate for his issue-based directorial venture.
"How can I put across a social issue without hard-hitting visuals? Let the film go to the revising committee. My producer Kumar Mangat and I are not accepting any cuts," said Priyadarshan.
"This is the first time in my entire career of 25 years and 81 films that a film of mine has got into censor trouble. And I am not amused."
Set in Jhanjhar in Bihar, the film revolves around the killings of three students of Delhi University who go missing in the dusty village. The government appoints two CBI officers - Siddhant Chaturvedi and Pratap Kumar - to solve the case.
Starring Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Paresh Rawal and Bipasha Basu, "Aakrosh" is set to hit screens Oct 8.
"On one hand I am accused of selling out mindless comedies, (but) none of my supposedly mindless comedies has ever got into trouble. On the other hand when I make an issue-based film, it gets stuck. How will I do something meaningful when our moral guardians don`t seem to believe in my vision?"
Priyadarshan admits there are shocking scenes of violence in the film. But he feels they are indispensable to the film`s subject.
"It is hard-hitting. But not an offbeat experimental film. We want younger generations to watch the film, to become aware of the frightening reality that surrounds their existence. Unless we let younger viewers grow aware of the reality, we can`t change the aberrations in society. So yes, I won`t settle for an A-certificate. Let me make films that have a social purpose. Or I go back to making `De Dana Dan`."
Kumar Mangat`s earlier film "Omkara", which replicated the visual and vocal violence of the North Indian backwater town, also was given an A-certificate.
"We had agreed to take an A-certificate for `Omkara`. We want a UA (for children under parental guidance) for `Aakrosh`," said Mangat.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.