Censor Board clears Padmavati with no cuts

Mumbai: The censor board has decided to give Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati a U/A certificate without any cuts. The board, however, suggested that the director change the title to Padmavat, besides making four other modifications.

Initially, reports stated that the board had suggested 26 cuts. But in a statement, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Prasoon Joshi clarified that they have only advised five modifications, including a change in title.

The board has also suggested modifications in disclaimers, adding one regarding not glorifying the practice of ‘Sati’ and also relevant changes in the song ‘Ghoomar’ to befit the character portrayed, Joshi said. The producers and the director are “completely in agreement” with the proposed modifications, Joshi added.

The board had a meeting of their examining committee on December 28 and decided to give the film a “U/A certification along with some modifications and likely change of the film’s title on the basis of the attributed material/creative source”. Bhansali, who appeared before a parliamentary panel, had said his lavishly-mounted Rs 150 crore period drama is based on the 16th-century epic poem Padmavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi.

Besides Joshi, the meeting was also attended by regular examining committee members, along with other censor board officials. Considering the complexities and concerns around the film, the CBFC appointed a “special panel to add perspective to the final decision of the censor board’s official committee”.

Joshi said, the filmmakers, Bhansali Productions, in a written communication to CBFC, had also requested that a panel of historians/academicians and members of the Rajput community view the film. “This was an unprecedented and tough situation. I am glad that following a balanced approach we resolved the task at hand in a pragmatic and positive manner,” Joshi said.

The certificate, as per the procedure, will be issued once the required modifications are carried out and the final material is submitted.