Indiantelevision.com Team
(25 March 2008 8:30 pm)

MUMBAI: The Information and Broadcasting ministry has initiated talks with the Union Home ministry on how to tackle the issue of arbitrary bans on feature films in various parts of the country, an issue that has begun to haunt the Indian film industry.

The issue was brought into focus during the inaugural session of Ficci Frames 2008 by veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra, who said, "Once a film has passed the censor scissors, no body, association or any individual can rule an additional decision. The Censor Board takes its decisions keeping all the necessary details in mind. Our movies have to face the brunt of political machinations."

I&B secretary Asha Swarup, who took the dais next, said that the government was seized of the issue. "We will soon be taking some steps for the advancement of the film industry. Solutions will be brought about keeping the recent bans on films in mind," she said.

Recently, two big banner movies, UTV Motion Pictures' Jodhaa Akbar and Yash Raj Films' Aaja Nachle, faced bans in certain regions of the country. Jodhaa Akbar, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, faced a ban in different parts of the country, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. However, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on the film on 4 March 2008, allowing the screening of the film. Chopra, in his address, also focused on the issue of monetary losses incurred by the films, as the first three days are crucial for box office collections.

YRF's Aaja Nachle, starring Madhuri Dixit, faced a controversy over a song in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, following which certain words of the song had to be changed. The UP state government had banned the film after a line from the title track - Bazaar Mein Machi Hai Maar, Bole Mochi Bhi Khud Ko Sunar - reportedly offended some Dalit organisations.