Film tribunal told to hear Nihalani’s plea expeditiously

Mumbai: The Bombay high court Wednesday directed the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) to expeditiously hear a petition filed by filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani, challenging the Censor Board’s suggestion to make around “20 cuts” in his upcoming film, Rangeela Raja.

Nihalani, a former chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), approached the high court earlier this month, claiming that the editing cuts suggested by the body were “illogical” and “meaningless”.

In his petition, Nihalani said, “There is no vulgarity, no double meaning dialogues (in the film). Still, I’ve been asked to delete a massive number of dialogues and scenes.”

The vacation bench of the HC directed Nihalani to approach the FCAT.

Nihalani’s counsel Ashok Sarogi Wednesday informed a bench of Justices B.P. Dharmadhikari and Sarang Kotwal that the FCAT was scheduled to hear the matter on November 23. He sought the HC’s direction to the CBFC not to seek any adjournments while the FCAT heard the matter. “If the matter is delayed before the FCAT, I (Nihalani) will lose one more Friday and the release of my film will be further delayed,” advocate Sarogi argued. To this, the bench directed the CBFC to remain present before the FCAT on November 23.

“The appellate authority (FCAT) is also directed to give an expeditious hearing to the petitioner’s (Nihalani’s) plea,” the bench said.

Rangeela Raja is written and produced by Nihalani, and directed by Sikander Bharti. The film stars Govinda, Shakti Kapoor and Prem Chopra. It introduces Mishika Chourasia and Anupama Agnihotri.