Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has once again voiced his disapproval of the restrictions placed on filmmakers by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). His debut film Paanch (2003) ran into trouble over its portrayal of violence, drug use, and strong language. The movie could not make it to the theatres even after receiving a certificate, reportedly due to financial constraints.Speaks Out on ‘Janaki vs State of Kerala’ Controversy
The filmmaker has now indirectly responded to the ongoing censorship faced by the Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala. The CBFC objected to the use of the name “Janaki”, citing its association with Goddess Sita.“If, in your writing, your characters can’t be named after any of the characters that have been part of mythology… It’s very strange,” he shared in a conversation with The Juggernaut.Kashyap also criticised what he sees as an infantilising approach to content regulation in India. He further questioned why adults are not allowed to make their own viewing choices these days. He believes that such restrictions on content prevent both creators and audiences from evolving.The filmmaker also challenged the belief that cinema’s purpose should be to deliver moral messages. In his view, the true role of art is to reflect society back to itself — including its flaws. “So that they can look at their own horrific ugliness, prejudices, biases, narrow-mindedness, et al. There are viral clips showing big politicians abusing. But they are in denial that these don’t exist anymore,” he remarked.Anurag Kashyap carried a Hindi dictionary with himKashyap alleged that language barriers within the CBFC often contribute to misinterpretations. He had to carry a Hindi dictionary with him during the censoring of his first film. “Now, they don’t even allow you to take your phone inside,” he said.He had to defend the use of the word “chu***a”, explaining that it merely means a foolish person in Hindi. He suggested that because the CBFC is headquartered in Maharashtra, where Hindi isn’t the native tongue, the term was misunderstood and assigned an exaggerated connotation. “Even those who get offended don’t understand the language,” he added.
