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| Edited By: Mustafa Plumber |Source: DNA |Updated: Feb 04, 2011, 11:15 PM IST
The fourth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati is over but an advertisement telecast to promote it months ago will now be contested in the Bombay high court. A public interest litigation (PIL), which has called it “insulting, mischievous, and maligning”, came up for hearing on Friday. Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, who featured in the promo, has been made a respondent.
The PIL filed by Andheri resident Mukesh Sharma states that the advertisement insulted freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose by misusing his slogan — ‘Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi doonga (You give me blood; I will give you freedom)’.
The petition also states that Bachchan is admired by millions of Indians. He is used to reading the script of an advertisement before acting in it, and so it was shocking that he did not stop himself from participating in the one for KBC-4, says the PIL.
The petition also blames the Central Board of Film Certification for allowing the promo to go on air. It has demanded that the state should take appropriate action against the people who prepared, sanctioned and censored the promo.
Appearing for the censor board, advocate Rui Rodriquez said, “The entire promo has to be seen in a larger context. You cannot just pick one thing and claim that it is insulting. The promotional campaign comprised a series of six advertisements. If it [the one featuring Bose’s slogan] is seen in the larger picture, it will never be seen as offending.”
Rodriquez sought time for filing an affidavit. Accordingly, the division bench adjourned the matter till March 10.
