The Censors see red in Mrityunjay Devvrat's upcoming film titled 'The B*****d Child'

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has asked producer-director Mritunjay Devvrat to change the title of his film The B*****d Child. In all likelihood, it may be renamed Children of War -- Nine Months To Freedom.

A source says, `The censor panel feels the title is abusive towards a child. They have issued a showcause notice to the producer to change it.''

An official from the Censor Board states, `We examined the film and red-flagged the title as it is derogatory for a child. We have asked the producer to remove it from the title.`

Devvrat however maintains, `We are still in talks with the Censor Board. We have not been informed about any change in the title. This is the first time I am hearing it.`

Adds the filmmaker, `The Censor Board is doing exactly what we are telling society not to do. They are not just banning a name, they are indicating to society that these children should be banned and disallowed. My film will still be called The B*****d Child for all purposes except for the formalities that require the approval of people who do not understand or care.''

He plans to release the film internationally with the original title.

The film is based on the 1971 Bangladesh genocide where thousands of women were raped and the resulting illegitimate children during the Indo-Pak war for the liberation of Bangladesh.

Incidentally, Devvrat had been keen on the title ever since he registered it with the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA).

T P Aggarwal, president, IMPPA says, `We had been asking the producer to change the title, but as he was adamant we cleared the title. When the CBFC objected, he came back to us and registered a new title Children of War-- Nine Months To Freedom.''

The film stars Pawan Malhotra, Victor Banerjee, Farooque Shaikh, Raima Sen and Indraneil Sengupta.