When the news that Pahlaj Nihalani was sacked from the post of Central Board of Film Certification chairman was out, social media truly was abuzz. Nihalani’s tenure was embroiled with so many controversies and had faced a lot criticism from members of the film fraternity, as well as the public. He is now being replaced by none other than famed lyricist, screenwriter and poet Prasoon Joshi, who seems a popular pick.
In an interview, both the ousted and the newly appointed chiefs react to this decision by the government.
‘I am a small entity’
Poet and lyricist Prasoon Joshi was surprised — not at being appointed as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) — but on rather how quickly it took place.
“I had given my consent to this, but then all this has happened so fast. I am not a big man. I am a small entity. There are a lot of big people, who will be around me and I am lucky that I know a lot of people, who think well and for the good of the film industry,” he says.
Ask him how he plans to discharge his duties and he seems to have the right intentions, but is honest about his awareness of the work involved.
“I really do not know how this work is done, but I do understand that it has to be done and done well! I know what the work is in short, but I need to understand what the processes are. I want to try and make as much difference as I can with good intent. I need to know about the nitty gritties. I am still waiting to know when I am supposed to take over,” he admits.
Joshi understands that the film industry wants much better from a man, who has taken over from the much-hated Pahlaj Nihalani, who has taken on many big films and filmmakers.
“I am happy that there are a lot of expectations. I respect the film industry a lot. I will try to take the advice of people, who have to offer good advice. All the people, who can join, will make a difference. This work has to be done together.
There has to be some sort of the understanding that this is the job to be done and I would want it to be looked at constructively and done to the best of our abilities. I have never shied from taking responsibilities till date,” he says.
Tell Joshi that the job of the CBFC head is to certify and not to censor and he offers this. “It is too early for me to answer a lot of questions. I will answer them once I get a hold of things. I am not someone, who will sit like an arm chair intellectual and just comment on things. I need to take things in my hands like how a man, an artiste and a thinking person can do and deliver. A man can only try his best. I will use my experience, as well as my understanding in the best way possible to discharge my duties. But then, I am a sensitive person and I will want to think about others,” he signs off.
— Sanskriti Media
‘I’m happy to make way for someone else’
Pahlaj Nihalani is in a surprisingly relaxed frame of mind a few hours after the news of his ouster went viral.
Says the outgoing CBFC chairperson, perhaps the most controversial chairperson ever, “I had been preparing myself for my exit for months now.
Actually, from the time I came in, there have been elements working against me, some of them from within the CBFC. These elements—I am not going to name them on-record — are currently celebrating premature Diwali. Unnka toh tyohaar mere jaane se ho gaya (they are in a festive mood because of my ouster)!”
Any regrets about his departure?
“None at all. Believe me, I was brought in as the CBFC chairperson all of a sudden. I happily took up the job that the Government thought me fit for. Now when the Government has asked me to step down, I do so without any regret. It was a big challenge while it lasted. When I came in, there was rampant corruption in the CBFC. I got rid of all the middlemen and touts, who made money in the censor certification process. They too must be celebrating Diwali in advance this year,” Pahlajji laughs loudly.
He refrains from commenting on Prasoon Joshi being his incoming successor — “Whoever takes over from me is welcome to do. I only hope he doesn’t reverse the work that I started at the CBFC. I feel we have achieved a lot in the past three years. We’ve speedened up the certification process and made it entirely digital.”
He adds, “I just hope my successor doesn’t succumb to false notions of liberalism propagated by the pseudo-progressive elements in our film industry and work in a direction opposed to mine. Do I have any regrets? None at all. I worked in all sincerity and with utmost honesty. In the process, I offended a lot of the so-called progressive elements. I also got labelled a ‘Sanskari’ censor chief. I am proud of that label. I hope I am remembered as the CBFC chairperson, who took a firm stand against vulgarity and pseudo-liberalism ,no matter how unpopular it made me.”
What future plans?
“I am returning to my first love, film production, in a big way. I will soon be announcing a slew of films.It’s been a highly satisfying tenure at the CBFC for me. But it’s also been exhausting and time-consuming.I am happy to make way for someone else.”
- Subhash K Jha
