{"id":3664,"date":"2016-03-19T03:19:31","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T21:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664"},"modified":"2016-03-19T03:19:31","modified_gmt":"2016-03-18T21:49:31","slug":"mohalla-assi-sunny-deol-cbfc-chandraprakash-dwivedi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/13.207.105.184\/?p=3664","title":{"rendered":"What Mohalla Assi\u2019s 3-Year Delay Says About India\u2019s Censor Board"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"container page-content\"><p><span class=\"dropcap\">C<\/span><\/p><\/div><p>handraprakash Dwivedi\u2019s controversial <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 based on the book <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kashi Ka Assi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Dr Kashinath Singh \u2013 has been in the making for the last six years. Since 2011, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has flitted through several release dates to finally hit the theatres today. Set in a 1988 Varanasi neighbourhood, the film covers the 10-year-period in India that witnessed events which defined the country we live in today \u2013 the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/politics\/babri-masjid-supreme-court-ayodhya-ram-janmabhoomi-narendra-modi-india-uttar-pradesh\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Babri Masjid<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> demolition, the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet the release hardly feels like a victory. Instead the film \u2013 intended to be a scathing critique of caste politics, prejudice, conservatism, the commercialisation of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/pov\/choosing-my-religion-hindu-muslim-christianity-atheist-agnostic-hindutva-islam-rss-swami-vivekananda-anti-hindu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">religion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the emergence of the Hindu Rashtra \u2013 feels weakened by its dated release. Its delayed opening at the theatres doesn\u2019t just undermine the film\u2019s relevance but also renders its prospects pointless. As it stands, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an unfortunate example of a film that suffers without a release and even with it. But more importantly, it<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is an important reminder of the lengths that the country\u2019s<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/pop-culture\/mirza-juuliet-cbfc-pahlaj-nihalani-lipstick-under-my-burkha-begum-jaan-sex\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Censor Board <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can go to silence voices critical of the government.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps, the worst thing about <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi\u2019s<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reality is that its fate was carefully pre-decided by the CBFC. On paper, India\u2019s statutory certification body \u2013 that comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting \u2013 is tasked with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cregulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952\u201d. But in reality, CBFC has over the last few years, increasingly been invested only in \u201ccensoring\u201d films, effectively punishing films inconvenient for the government.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The influence of the CBFC in India is such that no <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/bollywood\/gunda-20-years-kanti-shah\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">film<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be released in theatres or broadcasted on television, without being certified by it. This invariably leaves a host of filmmakers who use their films to respond to government policies, critique the state of affairs in the country, and investigate government atrocities, at its mercy. <\/span>\n\n<blockquote class=\"quote--center\"><p>The film\u2019s makers went a step ahead and slapped a case of contempt against the CBFC for not passing the film.<\/p><\/blockquote> \n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back in 2015, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was one such film. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The film\u2019s troubles with the Board started out when the trailer was leaked online and led to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatoday.in\/movies\/bollywood\/story\/mohalla-assi-sunny-deol-fir-complaint-leaked-trailer-abuses-ban-protests-varanasi-258940-2015-06-22\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">widespread protests in Varanasi<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Hundreds of people marched on the streets, offended by the splattering of expletives uttered by a man dressed as Shiva in the trailer. They demanded the removal of that scene, citing that it hurt \u201creligious statements\u201d and followed it up by filing an FIR against Deol. And in about a week, the Delhi High Court stayed the film\u2019s release. Despite the filmmakers and actors going on record to claim that the leaked trailer was an uncensored cut. But the damage was done.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even before <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was submitted to the Censor Board, its fate had been unanimously decided. In April 2016, the CBFC <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> led by Chairman <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/bollywood\/julie-2-movie-review-pahlaj-nihalani\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pahlaj Nihalani<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.asianage.com\/bollywood\/cbfc-bans-member-s-film-mohalla-assi-349\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">banned<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the film, declining to issue a certificate because of its \u201cpotentially inflammatory statements\u201d. Approaching the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, didn\u2019t help matters either \u2013 the reviewing body asked for 10 modifications. Incidentally, Dwivedi \u2013 a former CBFC member himself \u2013 was one of the few who had expressed dissent against Nihalani\u2019s \u201cpropensity to censor films instead of merely certifying them\u201d. In an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/bollywood\/film-makers-must-prepare-to-fight-a-legal-battle-mohalla-assi-director-chandraprakash-dwivedi\/story-MVHfRXnhVX7pY0tfTlJ1VN.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">interview<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this year, Dwivedi implied that his film was being punished,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I don\u2019t know what the agenda was, but every possible attempt was made by the CBFC and the FCAT to delay the film.\u201d<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CBFC\u2019s treatment of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isn\u2019t an exception. Nihalani\u2019s tenure has been marked by his insistence that filmmakers toe the line, exploiting the tactic of delaying the release of films that don\u2019t follow his diktat. Films like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Udta Punjab<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Haraamkhor<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/pop-culture\/lipstick-under-my-burkha-movie-review-konkona-sen-censorship\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lipstick Under My Burkha<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S Durga<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the investigative documentary <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thewire.in\/film\/the-long-and-fruitless-struggle-to-get-a-censor-certificate-for-a-film-on-muzaffarnagar\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">En Dino Muzaffarnagar<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have all been victims of the censorship. These filmmakers are then left with no choice but to double up as activists and partake in a protracted legal battle meant to drain them.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Securing a theatrical release in a country that embraces conservatism and eschews rebellion is no mean feat: It requires a considerable amount of time, effort, money, and clout. The best evidence is undoubtedly Anurag Kashyap\u2019s unreleased <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paanch<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Back then, Kashyap, a relatively new director with no standing in the industry, had little choice but to submit to the CBFC\u2019s wishes. But that wasn\u2019t the case two years ago, when<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/social-commentary\/udta-punjab\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Udta Punjab<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> came under the Censor Board\u2019s ire: Kashyap, the film\u2019s producer, took the CBFC head-on, ultimately managing to reverse their decision.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all filmmakers are however that lucky, given that the CBFC routinely targets industry newcomers. Sanal Sasidharan for instance, had to contend with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S Durga<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> being dropped from IFFI, Goa at the last minute and make do with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/scroll.in\/reel\/872645\/s-durga-to-have-a-crowd-backed-release-in-kerala\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">crowd-funded limited release<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Kerala. While Meera Chaudhary\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">En Dino Muzaffarnagar <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is yet to get a CBFC certificate. The only recourse for filmmakers who want to retain their voice and sidestep the CBFC, is to eye an online release or keep fighting.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last year, frustrated by the hold-up of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Dwivedi prepared for a legal battle: He approached the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/barandbench.com\/delhi-hc-allows-mohalla-assi-release\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delhi High Court<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which set aside the orders of the CBFC and allowed the film\u2019s release with one cut and an Adult certificate. The film\u2019s makers went a step ahead and slapped a case of contempt against the CBFC for not passing the film. And it was only in January this year, that the CBFC <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 now headed by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arre.co.in\/humour\/prasoon-joshi-new-cbfc-chief-pahlaj-nihalani\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prasoon Joshi<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was forced to clear <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohalla Assi <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">despite their wishes, putting an end to Dwivedi\u2019s arduous struggle. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dwivedi may have won, but the CBFC ensured that<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mohalla Assi<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lost.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From being a body that safeguarded cinematic voices, the CBFC has now become an obstacle, that exists to strangle these voices. To be a filmmaker in India, you don\u2019t just need to have the vision to make a film, but also the courage to fight a legal battle to demand a basic right: Seeing your film release in theatres.<\/span>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chandraprakash Dwivedi\u2019s Mohalla Assi, starring Sunny Deol, releases today after a three-year-long fight with the CBFC. But it hardly feels like a victory. Instead the film feels weakened by its dated release, punished for being critical of the government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":3665,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3114],"tags":[390,372,6875,546,6876,6877,1897],"class_list":["post-3664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bollywood","tag-cbfc","tag-censor-board","tag-chandraprakash-dwivedi","tag-films","tag-mohalla-assi","tag-pankaj-nihalani","tag-sunny-deol"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Mohalla Assi\u2019s 3-Year Delay Says About India\u2019s Censor Board<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chandraprakash Dwivedi\u2019s Mohalla Assi, starring Sunny Deol, releases today after a three-year-long fight with the CBFC. 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Instead the film feels weakened by its dated release, punished for being critical of the government.","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Poulomi Das","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664"},"author":{"name":"Poulomi Das","@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/#\/schema\/person\/7cc6b159b4669ddf75eae5f2b536d679"},"headline":"What Mohalla Assi\u2019s 3-Year Delay Says About India\u2019s Censor Board","datePublished":"2016-03-18T21:49:31+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664"},"wordCount":1025,"image":{"@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/13.207.105.184\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1542372376.jpg","keywords":["cbfc","censor board","chandraprakash dwivedi","films","mohalla assi","pankaj nihalani","Sunny Deol"],"articleSection":["Bollywood"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664","url":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664","name":"What Mohalla Assi\u2019s 3-Year Delay Says About India\u2019s Censor Board","isPartOf":{"@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/?p=3664#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/13.207.105.184\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1542372376.jpg","datePublished":"2016-03-18T21:49:31+00:00","author":{"@id":"http:\/\/13.201.39.237\/#\/schema\/person\/7cc6b159b4669ddf75eae5f2b536d679"},"description":"Chandraprakash Dwivedi\u2019s Mohalla Assi, starring Sunny Deol, releases today after a three-year-long fight with the CBFC. But it hardly feels like a victory. 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