Hindi films are filled with maa-bahen ki gaali

Hindi films are filled with maa-bahen ki gaali
Monday, March 23, 2009 12:31 IST
By Subhash K Jha, Santa Banta News Network
/> Deepa Mehta's Heaven On Earth was in censor trouble. The censor board asked her to drastically reduce scenes of domestic violence and to beep out a couple of expletives.

Deepa no stranger to censorship, refused. "I told them I won't make a single cut. And they were welcome to give me an ‘A' certificate if they wanted. They agreed. Not a single shot from Heaven On Earth (HEO) has been removed."

Deepa is appalled by the double standards in censorship. "Correct me if I'm wrong. But another film Provoked had scenes of domestic violence.

And Jennifer Lopez in Enough or Julia Roberts in Sleeping With The Enemy were shown to be far more graphically violated than Preity in Heaven On Earth. Comparatively my film has very little on-screen violence. We've just one sequence of domestic violence."

And Deepa wouldn't let it be touched. "I refused to let them cut a single moment from it.Luckily my distributor Ravi Chopra was with me.

He too would settle for no cuts. He said so many films with so much more violence get a ‘U' certificate. Films showing irrelevant gratuitous violence gets passed. But when in Heaven On Earth we show what happens behind closed doors we're told to cut it out.

No way! You've horrific stories of young girls being beaten up and abused in Mangalore and Mumbai. If I make a film about it they'll see these things can't be shown."

Says Deepa, "The violence in HEO is not manipulative. Wives are physically abused in front of the whole family. Children grow up thnking there's nothing wrong in beating up women and little girls who witness their mothers being battered actually believe getting beaten up is their destiny."

About the expletives Deepa laughs, "We've a whole recent history of Hindi films filled with maa-bahen ki gaali. The kid in Heaven On Earth says the ‘f' word twice once when his mother tells him to fasten his seat belt.How shocking is that!"

Sighs Deepa, "I'm tired of the hypocrisy in censorship. You know, in the days when Asha Parekh was the censor chief they passed my Fire without a single cut and with a ‘U' certificate.

The objection to the film came from the Shiv Sena. And now when there's rampant violence against women I was asked to cut it down. I said I'd rather not screen the film in India "
Varun Dhawan Unveils First Poster of 'Nain Matakka' Featuring Keerthy Suresh!

Varun Dhawan's upcoming film Baby John is already creating waves in the entertainment world. The latest buzz surrounds the highly anticipated track "Nain Matakka," and the excitement reached new heights when Varun shared the

Friday, November 22, 2024
'Agni' Trailer Unveiled: A Tribute to Firefighters' Bravery and Sacrifice!

The much-anticipated trailer for Agni, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, was released on Thursday, offering a gripping look into the world of firefighters, their bravery, and the sacrifices they make to protect

Friday, November 22, 2024
Sara Ali Khan Shares Fun BTS Moments from Ad Shoot, Invites Fans to Let Their Spirits Soar!

Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan recently took to Instagram to share a delightful behind-the-scenes (BTS) glimpse from her latest advertisement shoot, revealing her cheerful mood and creative spirit. In a playful and heartwarming post, Sara shared a video

Friday, November 22, 2024
Kartik Aaryan Enjoys Quality Time with 'Sea, Sand, and Sun' at IFFI Goa!

Bollywood heartthrob Kartik Aaryan, who is currently in Goa for the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and Filmazaar, took a moment to unwind and connect with nature. The actor shared a series of serene pictures on his Instagram, showcasing

Friday, November 22, 2024
Shehnaaz Gill Starts Shooting for Punjabi Film: A New Journey Begins!

Actress and social media sensation Shehnaaz Gill is all set to embark on a new chapter in her career, as she commences shooting for her upcoming Punjabi film. The actress shared her excitement with her fans on Instagram, marking this milestone

Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT