'Inklab' director slams censors for demanding cuts

Panaji, Nov 28 (IANS) A Chandigarh-based activist filmmaker Monday accused the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of acting as a 'political wing' of the government, which was only interested in suppressing civic activism in India.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji Monday, Guarav Chhabra, a Chandigarh based filmmaker whose film 'Inklab traces civil society activism from Bhagat Singh to Anna Hazare inspired campaign against corruption, said he would use the internet route to make success for his film.

'To hell with the censor. The film will find its way through the internet,' Chhabra said.

'Because this film is on citizen activism, the censor suggested nine cuts. The censor said that it was against the security of the country and anti-national, when the film was about activism and fighting corruption,' he said, adding that he had refused to delete the portions.

Chhabra claimed that the CBFC had refused to clear the film without cuts and stated that it was violative of section 5 B of the Cinematographic Act, 1952, which bars a film with visuals or words promoting communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific and anti-national sentiments.

'They (CBFC) are acting as political wing of government and it doesn't want any voice of dissent. Therefore, I have decided to hold a private screening of the film here,' he said.

The filmmaker said that dropping the film from the IFFI was a setback, but he promised 'Inklab' will bounce back.

'It is setback for the film. But films which promote citizen activism are films which the government does not like it.'

'The more it is suppressed, the more it will rise. Five thousand people have already seen it on the internet and I am sure it will reach out to the audience who are concerned with the subject,' he said.

Copyright  IANS

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