Christians miffed with the Censor Board again

The movie Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal (KDM) has ruffled feathers even before its release. A delegation of Catholics met with the Censor Board authorities including CEO Pankaja Thakur to register their protest against "the disrespectful portrayal of a Catholic priest and the community in the promos and advertisements” in KDM. They also demanded that their requests for a permanent representative on the Censor Board in Mumbai be immediately fulfilled.

The mail says, “The passage of such films shows the Board poorly. If these objectionable scenes aren't deleted, the censors will be responsible if any protest turns ugly." It also demands the dismissal of the board members involved.

The secretary of  Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC), Judith Monteiro told DNA that they've mailed the minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ambika Soni and the Censor Board chief Leela Samson conveying the community's displeasure.

Gen Secretary of Mumbai Youth Congress and Maharashtra Christian Youth Forum (MCYF) chief Agnelo Fernandes announced that the screening of KDM will not be allowed till the objectionable scenes were deleted. Some of the objectionable scenes in KBM include include: a priest dancing in a party with a person lying in a coffin with the crucifix beside him and the portrayal of a Catholic priest dancing with a lottery garland around his neck, with the church in the background.

“Just because we don't protest like other communities, this has extended to ridiculing clergy. Do  authorities react only to aggressive and violent protests? Are they pushing us towards it?” asked Joe Dias, Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) general secretary. 

Pankaja Thakur confirmed meeting the delegation but refused to comment. Both Samson and Percept Pictures, KDM’s producers,  were unavailable for comment.