On June 30, hitlist had reported about the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asking the makers of a crime-thriller titled Missing On A Weekend to do away with references of Goa among other `unjustified` cuts. (Read story) Now, the film's director, Abhishek Jawkar, has sent a legal notice to the Board for delaying the certification process and, thereby, stalling its theatrical release.

The film, set in Goa, was sent to the Board for a preview on June 17 since the initial release date was June 24. However, with multiple films scheduled to hit screens that day, the makers postponed it to July 1.

Abhishek says, `The list of cuts and other suggestions have not been given to me in writing yet; it was communicated only verbally. My representative has been visiting the CBFC office everyday to get the letter, so that we can follow procedure to appeal against it before a higher authority. I have been told the file is with CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani.`


He claims to have incurred huge losses due to the delay.

`I started promotions assuming that the film will release July 1, but have ended up losing almost Rs 1.5 crore in this process. I will have to remind the audience of my film since public memory is short,` he adds.

The director says he has found support from film folk, including Anurag Kashyap who was involved in a censorship row with the CBFC for Udta Punjab, to fight unjustified cuts. `It is funny how they have let go of words like b***h in one dialogue but are opposing words such as snip and trip. They have said Goa Tourism department feels my film is based on crime in that state and will mar the state's image. On the contrary, they allowed me to shoot the film there and did not object to it then. If the Board does not respond to my notice, I will take them to court.`

We sent a text message to Nihalani for his side of the story, but he did not respond.