As conflict between Censor Board Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani and some members of the board only seems to be intensifying, the latter is planning to make a formal representation to Prime minister Narendra Modi and I&B minister Arun Jaitley about Nihalani's "unilateral decision making style and cavalier attitude," The Times of India reported.
Board members have argued that decisions regarding films, including the arbitrary snipping of cuss words which the members have opposed, are taken by the board chief unilaterally.
A board member told TOI, "There are a few of us who feel that the chairperson has been working on his own accord without listening to anyone on the Board."
However, Nihalani said that the cuss words list had not been recirculated and rejected all allegations against him. "I am doing my job according to the rules and the allegations made are completely baseless and false. The members who are complaining actually don't want to work," he told TOI.
The TOI report further states, "Former I&B secretary and board member Raghu Menon in a recent letter to fellow members said he was 'disturbed' at being treated in a 'cavalier and offhand fashion' by CBFC chairman and CEO and the 'utter insensitivity and disregard' of the I&B ministry . Announcing that he would not attend any more board meetings Menon said, 'I have been involved in the working of the CBFC for the last 20 years but never have I seen it sink to such levels of total disregard for the members. It would be better to disband the Board if it is found to be so irrelevant.'"
Nihalani has shot back saying that Menon's term had completed this month and so there is no need for him to attend board meetings.
The board, especially Nihalani, recently came under fire on social media for shortening two lip-locking scenes from the latest bond film "Spectre", citing them as "unnecessarily long".
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted:
#PahlajNihalani has always functioned on his own accord and I don't subscribe to his curtailing of creative rights. #JamesBond #CBFC
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
#Spectre is an internationally applauded film, bt again #PahalajNihalani messes it up by shading it with his own thought process. #JamesBond
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
Nihalani's action should not be a reflection of my choices. I feel it's a mockery of the freedom of a filmmaker. #JamesBond #Spectre #CBFC
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
Just because I didn't succumb 2 #PahalajNihalani's likes & dislikes, I've never bn called 2 see a film in the revising committee. #JamesBond
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
#PahalajNihalani as the Chairman of #CBFC can't behave like an official spokesperson of a political party. #JamesBond #Spectre
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
Would also like to know as to who paid for the screening of his music video on PM, in theatre? Did he use the power of his chair? #PRDP
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
Never saw the signature of the Chairman on the Censor Certificates. But #PahalajNihalani makes it a point to do that. #JamesBond #CBFC
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
'I will see the film, I will give the cuts, I will listen 2 appeals, I will reject or approve the film' is #PahalajNihalani's mantra. #CBFC
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015
#PahalajNilhalani is a maker who started d trend of 'vulgarity' in Indian cinema esp. songs & is now giving sermons 2 filmmakers. #JamesBond
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 18, 2015