“The Entire Country Has Become A Censor Board,” Irrfan Khan Speaks Out On The CBFC Issue

With the court ruling for the ever-going Udta Punjab controversy almost upon us, more and more people from the entertainment industry are coming up in support of the true nature of the situation present in the country which is being shown in the film, and lashing out at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

And now, Irrfan Khan has lent his thoughts to the issue, saying that he condemns how the whole issue has turned into a nationwide uproar.

At a recent event, Irrfan Khan said that he is surprised that a film showing the actual state of things present in the country has become such a huge issue.

Image source
Image source

Highlighting the fact that there have been numerous reports which have covered the drug problem in Punjab, and they were left untouched. Expounding on this vein, he added:

“At every moment there are numerous issues. That never reaches us. It’s a strange fact that since several years some magazines who have the integrity have written about a state and reported about the severity of the crisis, and ten years later when a film is made on it based on that state, suddenly it becomes such a big issue.”

 

Khan further added that people and officials have confused the role of the certification board as that of also being a censorship body.

“It’s a certificate board; it’s not a censor board.”

Irrfan said that the biggest problem which exists currently is that once a big issue is made out of something, the entire country wants to express their opinions and, suddenly, the entire country becomes a censor board. He further added, “These are all rules made by the British and the blame should not fall on any individual. You appoint someone and he/she goes according to the rulebook. And we are sleeping; the country is sleeping. We don’t feel the need to change anything.”

 

Speaking on the sorry state of affairs which exists regarding the relationship of the Government and the entertainment industry, Irrfan lamented that the people do not take things very seriously.

Image sources: 1 & 2
Image sources: 1 & 2

He said:

“The industry should come forward. The industry pays Rs.4,000 crore in taxes, so the government should have some kind of gesture and appreciate those who pay taxes. We need to wake up and the government should also think about it. Mahesh Bhatt had stated that 40 years ago he had made some film which had got stuck. So we are just sleeping actually.”

 
The official and final court ruling for Udta Punjab is expected to be released on Monday, the 13th of June.


News source: News18
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