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Pahlaj Nihalani's film 'Rangeela Raja' faces his CBFC-era woes

During his tenure as the board's head, Nihalani had built a reputation for demanding numerous cuts to several films, most notably 'Udta Punjab', that was asked for 89 changes over various issues.

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Pahlaj Nihalani
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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is a phrase former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani will currently identify with. In an ironic turn of fortunes, Nihalani on Monday moved the vacation bench of the Bombay High Court to challenge the board's show cause notice to him that suggested around 20 cuts to his soon-to-be-released film, 'Rangeela Raja'. During his tenure as the board's head, Nihalani had built a reputation for demanding numerous cuts to several films, most notably 'Udta Punjab', that was asked for 89 changes over various issues.

Nihalani's latest — which he is both producing and directing — stars Govinda in a prominent role. The plea filed by Nihalani, through advocate Ashok Sarogi, seeks directions to the board to quash and set aside its notice and allow the film to be released without the suggested cuts. Some of the suggested cuts include removing lines like "Main toh Ram nahin ban saka..Aapse aasha rakhta tha ke Sita banoge...woh bhi nahin hua," (I couldn't be Ram, but hoped you would be Sita. That didn't happen) and "Arjun ki tarah raat ko kyun teer chala rahe ho" (Like Arjun, why are you shooting arrows in the night?)

Defending his film, he said that the guidelines dictate a notice can be challenged before the revision committee, tribunal or the court. "I have decided to challenge it before the court, as was done in the case of the film Udta Punjab."
He added that it was not a "vulgar" film and the board has been giving certification to other films "far more vulgar and obscene".

Director’s Dilemma

Suggested cuts include removing: “Main toh Ram nahin ban saka..Aapse aasha rakhta tha ke Sita banoge...woh bhi nahin hua,” and “Arjun ki tarah raat ko kyun teer chala rahe ho”.

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