CBFC orders 13 cuts in “Bheed”, Swara Bhasker says: 'allergy to facts'
CBFC has asked producers to delete all references to PM Modi, his speeches
Mumbai: Film Maker Anubhav Sinha’s directorial, Bheed, starring Rajkumar Rao and Bhumi Padnekar in the lead roles has garnered huge attention from the social media and continues to remain under controversy.
The social drama movie was under the scanner of Central Board of Film certification (CBFC) even before its release on March 24th and had become a point of discord since the launch of its trailer. The film is set on the events highlighting a realistic portrayal of the nationwide Lockdown introduced in March 2020.
The first trailer of the film was pulled down, within a week after it was released on Youtube. The trailer was again launched on official channels post alterations
In a recent clampdown , the CBFC had sought the producers (Benaras Media Works) of the film to mandatorily make 13 alterations in the motion picture. The details of the same were shared by Journalist Aroon Deep on his twitter handle.
“India’s allergy to facts” - Swara Bhaskar
The Central Board of Film Certification has suggested a long list of edits for Anubhav Sinha's latest film, Bheed, which has caused a stir on social media. The film, which is a black and white drama starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, focuses on the mass migration of workers during the lockdown in India in March 2020.
The list of suggested edits includes the removal of cuss words and some nudity, as well as the deletion of all speeches and references to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in the voice-over. References to the Delhi Chief Minister were also replaced, and the word 'Jihad' was muted from a particular dialogue.
Further changes involved reducing the visuals of police brutality towards migrant workers, deleting direct hitting scenes and changing a dialogue that referenced Partition. Meanwhile, Swara Bhaskar and others on Twitter have expressed their dismay at the edits, calling them censorship and a sign of an "allergy to facts" in India.
The first trailer for the film was also pulled off and re-released with changes, including the omission of a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the changed dialogue referencing Partition. Director Anubhav Sinha acknowledged the changes but declined to comment on the reasons behind them, saying only that there was a "sanctity" to the film that he did not want to disturb.
Actor Rajkummar Rao also refused to comment on the edits, stating that it was a creative decision made by the filmmakers. The controversy surrounding the edits has sparked a debate about censorship in Indian cinema and the extent to which filmmakers should be able to express themselves freely
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BJP dreaming to win polls with money power: West Bengal BJP MLA after bypoll loss
Kolkata, Nov 23: As the ruling Trinamool Congress swept the by-elections in six assembly seats in West Bengal, Kurseong's party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma attacked the state leadership, saying the party dreams of winning polls with money power and that it sidelines legislators and gives "unnecessary importance and responsibilities" to MPs.
The TMC retained five of the six seats it had previously won during the 2021 polls, while wresting the key Madarihat seat from the saffron camp in north Bengal’s Alipurduar district.
In a Facebook post, Sharma alleged, "The BJP runs a membership drive in West Bengal over the phone from a Kolkata office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party. The party sidelines MLAs and gives unnecessary importance and responsibilities to MPs. It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centers its politics solely around religion."
"The BJP accuses opponents of corruption while carrying Adani and Ambani on its shoulders. It tries to undermine the rights of the indigenous population by luring Bangladeshi Hindus with promises of CAA. It halts MGNREGA funds and indulges in such tactics, hoping to win elections in the state," he alleged.
On the other hand, the BJP MLA lauded TMC saying, that the ruling party in the state, armed with 26 different "pro-poor schemes" such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Rupashree Prakalpa, Shishu Sathi Scheme, and Student Credit Card, quietly works at the grassroots level.
"Now, you decide who will win the elections. I have never seen a culture of self-criticism within the BJP; otherwise, this outcome wouldn't have occurred," he added.
Since the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has won every by-election, except the Sagardighi bypoll in March 2023, which was won by a Congress candidate who later switched to the TMC.
With this victory, TMC's tally in the 294-member state assembly rose to 216, further consolidating its position. The BJP's tally, on the other hand, dropped to 69, from 77 in 2021.
