CBFC denies approval to documentary 'The Battle for Banaras,' chronicling Modi-Kejriwal battle

Another film has been reportedly denied approval from the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) - this time it is the turn of National Award-winning filmmaker Kamal Swaroop's documentary 'The Battle for Banaras.'

The two-hour documentary covers the electoral battle in Varanasi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. 

The book is said to be inspired by Nobel laureate Elias Canetti's book 'Crowds and Power.'

Swaroop and his crew had filmed the elections for 44 days in Varanasi last year and have claimed that they have been denied permission from a CBFC review committee on Thursday.  

“My officers told me that it’s a political satire. It speaks against all politicians and is pro-Kejriwal in the way it has been shot...They (the committee) found the kind of language that has been used in the film absolutely unsuitable for public viewing. It is inflammatory and flouts the CBFC guidelines,” CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani, who hasn’t watched the film, told The Indian Express.

"The film is harmless and is not anti-government....We were told that no cuts can justify such a film and the film was rejected, which is worrisome. When I asked for the reason, I was told the film is 'not ok' and there is 'some mischief' in it," Swaroop told the Times of India.

The director now plans to approach the revising committee and the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal.

Watch the two trailers of his documentary here. 

Watch the second trailer.