Pahlaj Nihalani-led CBFC bans telecast of The Danish Girl for 'sensitive subject'

Mumbai: The Pahlaj Nihalani-led Central Board of Film Certification has done it again. After suggesting several cuts and denying a certificate to numerous films in recent times, this time the board has banned the television broadcast of the Oscar nominated 2016 film, ‘The Danish Girl’.

The film, dealing with the sexual reassignment surgery of one of the earliest adopters of it, was supposed to be telecast on Sony Pictures Network’s channel, Sony Le PLEX HD.

The channel’s official twitter feed tweeted confirming the same.

“The whole subject is controversial, and it’s unsuitable to be viewed by children. It talks about a man who wants a sex change and has a genital operation to become a woman. The subject is sensitive and how do you edit a subject like that?” Mumbai Mirror quoted an unnamed CBFC official as saying.

The personal further added that the film had been passed for its theatrical release with zero cuts to retain the essence of the movie as it sensitively shows the dilemma of a person who doesn’t identify with his gender.

“The Censor Board’s job is not to cut, but to see each movie individually in its context and under the guidelines provided to us. We are a multicultural nation and we have to maintain a balance. What may be suitable for a metropolis, may not be suitable for a small village,” the official added.

Earlier the CBFC had also come in for a lot of flak after removing scenes from the recently released ‘Phillauri’.