Censorship – The Arts

The NCP (SP) which is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has slammed the CBFC’s decision to order removal of the scenes from Phule.
New Delhi: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has asked the makers of the film Phule to remove several caste-based terms, after objection from Brahmin outfits, resulting in the postponing of its release.
Phule is a biopic on the lives of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule was supposed to release on Thursday (April 11), which is also the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule and is celebrated as Phule Jayanti across the country. However, owing to the controversy, the film’s release has been rescheduled to April 21, reported New Indian Express.

The directive of CBFC includes removing terms such as “Mahar”, “Mang”, “Peshvai”, and “Manu’s system of caste”, with the censor board terming them as “sensitive.”
The CBFC ordered the cuts after the Brahmin Federation, led by its president Anand Dave, alleged that the film “promotes casteism” and portrays Brahmins in a “negative light.”
Dave said that while the film highlights caste-based discrimination, it ignores the contributions of Brahmins who supported Mahatma Phule’s reform efforts.