Sunny Deol's Mohalla Assi' lands in trouble again, promo gets a red signal from CBFC

The film is in trouble again as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has refused to issue the certification for the one particular promo of the film.

Photo courtesy: Film still

New Delhi: Sunny Deol and Sakshi Tanwar's upcoming satirical drama 'Mohalla Assi' has been caught up in another controversy. The film is in trouble again as the Central Board of Film Certification has refused to issue the certification for the one particular promo of the film, without any cuts.

After undergoing a long battle of 13 months, Chandraprakash Dwivedi's directorial 'Mohalla Assi' was issued 'A' certification. The makers released the first promo of the film only recently. However, the promo did not go well with the CBFC's examining committee as it has now given a red signal to it.

Mumbai Mirror quoted 'Mohalla Assi' co-producer Ashok Ahuja saying, "A part of our promo had gone viral a few years ago, based on which many PILs were filed against the makers, after which the censor board said that parts of the film were hurting religious sentiments. We approached High Court and got our film cleared with an 'A' certificate and instructions to edit out one scene".

"Promos and trailers have to be cleared by the board before being released in the public domain. While our promo for a 'U' certificate has been cleared, the 'A' promo, has been denied. We have been told to remove two more scenes (with bad language) from the promo, but they are vital to our promotion," he further told the tabloid. He added that they have been advised to approach the revising committee. 

The story of 'Mohalla Assi' is loosely based on Dr. Kashi Nath Singh's popular Hindi novel 'Kashi Ka Assi', a satire on the commercialisation of the pilgrimage city, and fake gurus who lure the foreign tourists. Sunny Deol plays the lead role of Sanskrit teacher and an orthodox religious priest (Pundit) while Sakshi Tanwar plays his wife. The story of the film goes through the events in 1990 and 1989 including Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Mandal Commission implementation.

Alongside Sunny Deol and Sakshi Tanwar, the film also stars Ravi Kishan, Saurabh Shukla, Mukesh Tiwari, and Rajendra Gupta in pivotal roles. 

On June 30, 2015, the release of Mohalla Assi was stayed by a Delhi court for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Prior to its release Mohalla Assi leaked online on August 11, 2015. Now, after much delay, the film is realising across cinema halls on Novembers 16, 2018.