Film on Benazir Bhutto censored

When efforts are on to bring peace and stability in relations between India and Pakistan, a documentary titled Village of Widows produced by Madhur Bhandarkar and directed by Ashoke Pandit has shocked censor board members because of its sensitive content. As a result they have recommended severe cuts.

The docu narrates real life stories of women in a tiny hamlet of Kashmir called Dardpora. It is inhabited only by widows and orphans and has no male citizen.

The docu alleges that Pakistan-funded terrorism has caused the deaths of the male members who were brainwashed to turn into terrorists. Later on they were gunned down by the Indian military.

However, the problem area is that the makers want to use footage of slain Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto who is seen apparently giving fiery speeches against India.

Ashoke says, “There is footage of Benazir Bhutto giving an anti-India speech. As opposed to this, her public persona was something totally different. There are also shots of the Indian National Flag being burnt in Kashmir. These have not gone down too well with the censor board who want me to remove those scenes. None of this footage is a figment of anybody’s imagination or a work of fiction. It depicts the real documentation of events that had resulted in terrorism sky-rocketing in the valley. To me, Bhutto’s speech played an important role in inciting violence in the valley and the flag burning was the result of this same anti-India sentiment prevalent in the valley in those years.”
The film-maker has now moved the tribunal to look at the issue objectively and pass the scenes in question.

Vinayak Azad, who used to head the censor office in Mumbai, gives us the strapping of law in place for censorship of such sensitive content. “Any content that the board feels will hamper relationship between two nations, be it India and Pakistan or India and any other country, is generally toned down.”

Meanwhile Nandini Sardesai, member of the board, told After Hrs that though she has not seen the movie herself, she is aware that the censor board had suggested changes in the film.