MUMBAI, March 31: Foul language and obscene gestures have forced Sohail Khan, director of the Salman Khan-Kajol starrer, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, to snip a few feet of celluloid from his second directorial venture.Former convenor of the Bharatiya Janata Party's film cell, actor-film-maker, Shashi Ranjan says the scene depicting clones of five film-stars clowning around is defamatory to BJP member of Parliament and actor Shatrughan Sinha. Swear words and obscene gestures are bandied about by clones of Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Rajnikant, to entertain viewers. But the ribald humour did not tickle the funny bone, says Ranjan and Sinha's wife Poonam, who attended a special screening of the recently released film.
Clarifying that his protest has no political overtones, Ranjan told Express Newsline, "The obscene gestures, which the clones indulge in are in terrible taste.'
'Poonam says she too is disgusted. "I didn't feel like sitting through the film after the scene. Iwalked out. Comments like "E buddhe..." referring to senior stars were not called for at all," she points out.
After viewing the film, Rajan says he telephoned Sultan Ahmed, president of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association, demanding that the objectionable sequences be cut. Shakti Samanta, chairman of the Central Board for Film Certification, Ranjan adds, was not aware of the scene.
However, Sultan Ahmed obliged, and asked the film-makers to delete the scene."Shahi Ranjan wanted to go to the cinema halls to demonstrate. But I stopped him," Ahmed recalls, adding that he quite agreed with the protest.
"The protestations were justified. After all, I wouldn't have asked for the cut otherwise. "But," he underscores, "there was no force whatsoever." Director Sohail Khan and producer Bunty Walia were not available for comment but the former's father, writer Salim confirmed that the offending scene had been deleted from the final print of Pyar kiya To Darna Kya. "I saw the film,fully, quite late. I didn't like the scene myself. And after I received a call from Ahmed, I asked my son to cut out the scene. Controversy paida honese pehle usko defuse kar diya (We defused the controversy before it could snowball)," he explains.
Ranjan, a close associate of Sinha, clarifies that it makes no difference who the profanities demean. He says he would have protested even if a clone of Sinha was not used. "I object to the cheap gestures made at even `Rajesh Khanna' and for that matter the others as well," he retorts.
This is not the first time Ranjan has waved the banner of morality. A few years ago, he was instrumental in halting the screening of film-maker Pahlaj Nihlani's Andaz on similar grounds.
Now, he has "appointed" BJP workers to view Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya to make sure that the appropriate deletions have indeed been made.pAsked if such demands could thwart a film-maker's creative attempts, Salim comments: "Let's face it, not everyone has a sense of humour. Theactors at whom the "humour" is directed will have no problems. It's the supporters who can create trouble. So, why invite it," he asks.
Humour is a subjective concept, he explains, adding that the younger generation of film-makers tend to see things differently from the older ones. "They are kids. Their humour is of a different kind," he adds. The city BJP office says it has no role in the controversy. "The party has nothing to do with what happens in the scenes of a particular film. Ranjan must have done it in his personal capacity," says Public Relations Officer Atul Bhatkhalkar.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
