The Indian film industry’s ongoing tango with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) continues, leaving audiences and filmmakers bewildered. Recent inconsistencies in censorship decisions have further highlighted the board’s opaque functioning and raised questions about its criteria.
The latest case in point is Dhanush’s upcoming period action drama, ‘Captain Miller’. Scheduled for a Pongal release, the film received a ‘U/A’ certificate but at a cost. Reportedly, over four minutes of footage, mostly from the climax, were axed by the censor board after deeming them too violent.
This decision stands in stark contrast to the recent approval of Venkatesh’s ‘Saindhav’, also an action film with brutal visuals. The trailer of ‘Saindhav’ depicted scenes of bloody combat, yet it managed to secure a ‘U/A’ certificate without cuts. This discrepancy has left many scratching their heads.
Insiders suggest the censor board offered ‘Captain Miller’ an ‘A’ certificate if the team refused to comply with the cuts. Opting for a wider audience, the makers chose to trim the film to secure the ‘U/A’ tag. However, this sacrifice raises concerns about artistic freedom and the censor board’s subjective interpretations of violence.
‘Captain Miller’ is set in the 1930s-40s and promises high-octane action sequences. With Priyanka Arul Mohan as the female lead and significant roles for Shivarajkumar and Sandeep Kishan, the film has generated considerable buzz. GV Prakash’s music and Madhan Karky’s dialogues further amplify the anticipation.
The censor board’s decision to trim ‘Captain Miller’ has sparked debate within the industry and amongst audiences. Questions remain about the rationale behind the cuts, especially when compared to seemingly similar films like ‘Saindhav’. While the aim of censorship should be to protect public sensibilities, it should not impede artistic expression or create an environment of inconsistency.
