Nothing against sex, says CBFC Chief

Director Onir is a happy man. His film, Shab, that focuses on the sexual tension between a young struggler and an older socialite played by Raveena Tandon Thadani has got the censorial thumbs-up.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) known to be prudish and conservative about sex, has ordered no cuts at all. Though the film has been given an ‘Adult’ certification, Onir has no quibble with that. Says Onir, “I am delighted that my film has been left untouched, and pleasantly surprised that the CBFC asked for no cuts. Of course, it’s an ‘Adult’ film with adult situation. So it’s been appropriately certified.”

Onir was apprehensive about the CBFC’s response. He says, “I thought they’d ask for visual cuts. But they didn’t. Only a few negligible audio cuts that I am happily making because if the CBFC had not cut anything I’d have felt really insecure.”

So, how is it that a film about a sexual relationship has been treated so kindly by the CBFC? Says CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani, “We have nothing aginst sex. We’ve passed Onir’s film without any cuts.