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AN INDIAN COURT has ordered filmmakers to cut four scenes from a forthcoming Bollywood movie after ruling that they show lawyers in a bad light.
India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had cleared comedy-drama Jolly LLB 2, which stars Akshay Kumar, for release but the Bombay High Court intervened, the Press Trust of India reported.
The case is an unusual twist on censorship in the country, where courts have instructed India’s censorship board to reinstate scenes that it has deleted — not the other way round.
“We had no objection with the film and gave it a certificate. It’s a movie for entertainment and is fiction,” CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani told AFP, adding that he was waiting to receive the court’s order.
Jolly LLB 2 tells the story of an awkward lawyer played by Kumar, who takes on a high-profile case in a satirical look at India’s legal system.
Four cuts
Advocate Ajay Kumar Waghmare filed a petition claiming that certain shots mocked lawyers and disrespected India’s judicial system. He called for them to be cut and for “LLB” (a legal degree) to be dropped from the movie’s title.
The Press Trust of India reported that Mumbai’s top court had agreed with the petition and ruled that the film, due for release last Friday, could only be screened if four cuts were made.
Newspapers said these included one showing a scared judge hiding behind a chair and another in which Kumar’s character is seen jumping on a dais as he instructs his client to throw a shoe at the judge.
The movie also apparently shows lawyers playing cards and dancing in court, according to The Hindu newspaper.
The Bombay High Court’s stance is a far cry from its ruling of June last year when it overturned 12 cuts that the CBFC had made to Udta Punjab, a film depicting drug addiction. It told the film board not to be “over-sensitive”.
India’s censors have a long history of barring movies and cutting scenes, including those deemed too racy or capable of causing religious offence, and filmmakers accuse them of intolerance.
In 2015 the CBFC blocked the release of a toned-down version of Fifty Shades of Grey and deemed two James Bond kissing scenes unsuitable for an Indian audience.
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“…. the Catholic Church soon became suspicious ….”
No Kidding! Solves the problem of when that organisation sits up and takes notice! Anyway it should be a fascinating programme. And – not for the first time – it’s TG4 showing us what an excellent broadcaster it is.
Agreed. How is it that all the best documentaries, similar to this one, are broadcast in the Irish language?
@ Dexter TG4 is reviving my love of the Irish language that the Catholic Church tried to beat out of me! I think the RTE the lame .. main Broadcaster in Ireland wants to keep the Irish language a minority language. It’s TG4 that IS encouraging a revival.
Have to agree with you again Andrew.
It may be that TG4 are not controlled by the NornIron agenda, which the main station is
Apologies for the bad grammer
Not all Catholics see these visions but those who do can not deny what they have seen and experienced, and it greatly confirms their faith, good for them.
All it confirms is how gullible and prone to delusion people are.
Holy well in his bedroom…thats an original excuse for a bedwetter. Give him a holy medal.
You mean all these people who travel to the “House of Prayer” and allow Christina Gallagher live a luxury lifestyle?
Even more demented than Sean Quinn’s supporters!
Funny how it happens during bad times, a recession or depression. If a man says he talks to god daily, he may be put in a hospital and a priest is left untouched. There is no God, get over it and enjoy your life!
Stephen: I think people see these “apparations” during hard times because they need something to believe in; some hope for the future. I am open minded but I think are highly likely to be tricks of the mind – people will see what they want/need to see.
Stephen: I think people see these “apparations” during hard times because they need something to believe in; some hope for the future. I am open minded but I think are highly likely to be tricks of the mind – people will see what they want/need to see.
There was a mention in A Star Called Henry , I thought it was just Roddy Doyles imagination I never knew it was a true story !!
Great book, shame about the sequels.
Naturally the Catholic church wanted to get their foot in the door early
It should not be considered suprising that religious visions were reported in the RIC barracks it suggests that none of the constabulary were religious. The roots of Protestantism are in Catholiciism. Not all Catholics see these visions but those who do can not deny what they have seen and experienced and it greatly confirms their faith.
Bigoted too Tom?
The logic of a religious nut.
The roots of Catholicism is in the Roman Empire’s decision to adopt Christianity as opposed to Mitracism in the fifth century and the origins of Christianity are in Greek Paganism, Judaism, Mitracism, Zoastrianism, and even Hinduism.
All these ‘isms’ should be banned!
“Bless me father, for I have sinned, its been only six hours since I last smoked a British soldier.”
Say seven hail marys and have two done in by lunchtime, my child.
Heard you the first time.
It’s amazing the nonsense that people belived…and still do.
simple times, lack of education and powerful church, easy really to think how people fell for this superstitious stuff. We still have them today every hear of the house of prayer ?? but thankfully by and large ireland has moved on. Still a bit to go but getting there
It’s going to be several more generations I think.
In a country ubiquitously littered with crows and ungodliness among other infernal aspects, i struggle to fathom the veracity of this piece of documentary.
wha!!!
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