No NOC needed from Gandhis for Indu Sarkar

It seems like the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has multiple standards while dealing with movies with a political theme. While the makers of the Manmohan Singh biopic were asked to get a no objection certificate (CBFC) from the man himself, Madhur Bhandarkar may not have to go the lengths for his movie.

His film on Indira Gandhi’s draconian Emergency reign, Indu Sarkar, won’t require an NOC from anyone in the Congress party or the Gandhi family. On the contrary, the CBFC seems rather thrilled to see the Emergency era being slammed in the trailer.

Says CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani, “I saw Madhur’s trailer, and I want to congratulate him for blowing the lid off of one of the most shameful chapters in Indian politics. This was a time when the nation was put in the most embarrassing spotlight in the global arena. Many of our biggest leaders had to go to jail during the Emergency. Indian people’s morale had hit rock-bottom.”

But what about the rule which says that no film about real incidents and situations can be passed without an NOC from the concerned people?

“But Indu Sarkar doesn’t name anyone,” argues Pahlaj. “There’s no mention of Mrs Gandhi or Sanjay Gandhi, or anyone else in the trailer. You’re only presuming the film is about the people you mention because of the physical resemblance.”

This is a bit of nitpicking, since the trailer clearly begins by stating the film is set during the Emergency, declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975. It goes on to show her and son Sanjay (played by Neil Nitin Mukesh) indulging in the most arrogant tyranny.

“I didn’t hear anyone’s name mentioned in the trailer. If they are mentioned in the film, we will see,” states Nihalani. “At the moment, I’m glad someone has made a film on the Emergency. It’s a kaala dhabba (black spot) on our political history.”