Censor Board Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani Calls FTII Students 'Anti Nationals'

By Ranjit Nair

17 November, 2015
Countercurrents.org

Response from an FTII Student to the Censor Board Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani

Pahlaj Nihalani

Let us introduce you to Mr. Pahlaj Nihalani, 'The Propaganda Machine' of the current government who by chance (pun intended) also happens to be the Chief of the Censor Board and in his free time makes terrible and unintentionally funny propaganda films for the Prime Minister, (his 'action hero' as he claims) sneaking them in between intervals of films running in theaters around you.

Mr. Nihalani is famous for his autocratic ethics in the Censor Board, which is explicitly expressed by his board members on several occasions. Here is a man, who indented to ban a list of cuss words from Indian Cinema without consultation or approval from his board members. Here is a man, who recently rejected a censor certificate to Kamal Swaroop's documentary Battle for Benaras which captured the Modi-Kejriwal electoral battle. Anything which is even remotely critical of the current government is immediately axed by this man. The list of films and filmmakers unnecessarily facing troubles from this man increases by the day, NH10 and Badlapur are just to name a few.

Some quotes from board members of the Censor Board against Mr. Nihalani in the recent past:

Nandini Sardesai (on Nihalani banning Battle for Benaras): "This is now increasingly becoming a set pattern. Anything seen as remotely critical of the powers-that-be is immediately axed. This is wrong. I think filmmakers should just simply bypass the review committee and head straight to the tribunal every time this happens. That would probably send a message to the I&B ministry about the deep rot that has set in here."

Ashoke Pandit (on Nihalani banning cuss words): "From the day this man (Nihalini) has taken the reins of the board, the CBFC is resembling like a wild horse gone amok. His ridiculous diktats and autocratic functioning has made CBFC a laughing stock not only amongst the film makers but also the cinema viewing audience. Nihalani's diktats are supported neither by logic nor law, nor does he appreciate the intelligence of the film-maker and the audience. He literally functions like an archaic monarch treating CBFC and its office like his own fiefdom."

Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi (on NH10 edit orders by Nihalani): "I have started feeling uncomfortable of being a part of an esteemed institution where, collective decision of the board is ignored or collective voice is unheard." He has asked for an urgent meeting of the Board to address "several uncomfortable issues."

Now, the same man, if forgotten should be reminded that he is a de-facto FTII Society and the Governing Council member, for the position he unjustly holds in the Censor Board. And with no hesitation, we can place him with the likes of other members Anagha Ghaisas, Narendra Pathak, Rahul Solapurkar, Sailesh Gupta and our dear chairman Gajendra Chauhan. The category we call the 'eminent bhakts' in the FTII Society.

Mr. Nihalani has been venomous in his anti-FTII stand throughout the strike which was critical of the above mentioned chauvinistic appointments in the FTII society made by the current government. He, self proclaimed vanguard of nationalism in cinema, now plans to make a film showing FTII students and its alumni anti-national. Having such a member in the Governing Council with such intolerant views towards its own institution and plurality of cinema is extremely unhealthy and highly condemnable.

Our institute and the culture of cinema in this country are in dangerous hands. We humbly call upon the respected members of the film fraternity to take this issue up with utmost seriousness and save Indian Cinema from the clutches of such autocrats. As Mr. Nihalani is a responsible representative of the Government we demand the Hon’ble Minister of State Mr. Rajyavardhan Rathore to seek the resignation of Mr. Pahlaj Nihalani both from Censor Board (CBFC) as and FTII society for calling the students of FTII anti-nationals. Since the Government hadn’t shown any positive gesture to rethink about the political appointments in the FTII Society, we will continue to protest in all available platforms as we had announced earlier.

Please check the link for Nihalani’s interview.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbfc-chairman-pahlaj-nihalani-plans-film-to-show-ftii-students-as-anti-nationals/articleshow/49809325.cms?from=mdr
Please check the below mentioned links for propaganda Videos made by Pahlaj Nihalani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GPyakkaWGI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhEVIcVUWbc&list=PLPFqQDL8xmCk7HwJbwG7o2ZKBW70U53hO

Ranjit Nair, Students’ Association, FTII