Kamal Hassan makes strong statement against Censor Board

Making a strong statement over the qualification of Censor Board members, noted actor Kamal Hassan today said they did not have the requisite qualifications to suggest cuts and certify films before their release.

"They might like cinema but that does not mean that they are qualified to judge cinema," he said, during a Question and Answer session at the inauguration of the 11th Chennai International Film Festival here. "To answer your question is, right now, they are not qualified," he told actor Suhasini Maniratnam, who sought his comment on behalf of well known playback singer SP Balasubramanian.

Hassan, who has acted in hundreds of Tamil films and also in Hindi and other South Indian languages, has also directed some films. "I know he (SPB) suffered a lot and I am yet to go there (Censor Board) for Vishwaroopam 2. But that doesn't matter and the point that has to be made in this great forum.. people who are qualified should be there (Board).. I would like to see people who are qualified to be there." "This is ridiculous.. the Censor Board members are not qualified. And all political parties want to have their member in the Board," Hassan said.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan was also present as a special invitee in the inauguration.