On the evening of 25th July, Vedaa makers issued a statement saying that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is yet to see the film and give it a certificate despite applying for it one month ago. John Abraham and Sharvari are in the lead roles. The Examining Committee (EC) of CBFC had seen it before recommending that Revising Committee (RC) should also watch it. The RC screening has not yet taken place even though EC saw this movie long time ago. With less than three weeks remaining before the release on August 15, the movie makers publicly implored responsible authorities to expedite things.
As nicknamed by Bollywood Hungama, the director and producer of Vedaa, Nikkhil Advani exclusively spoke on this issue to us. “On June 22nd the screening happened so on June 25th I got an email saying that the chairman (Prasoon Joshi) had sent the film to the Revising Committee. It is me who has to send it to RC but how could the Chairman have sent it? If EC had informed me about those cuts, even I would have accepted it.”
He added, ‘Its a complete entertainment film but which also deals with a topical subject that has been handled very sensitively. But obviously they found things objectionable which they have to let me know’.
When asked if he tried contacting Prasoon Joshi himself, the filmmaker said, “Yes, of course we reached out to him and also other officials. Even John Abraham called them up. Mr Joshi replied that he has already communicated relevant instructions to CBFC for constituting an RC. And watching the movie as soon as possible. But this was one month back.”
However, there’s good news that in a couple of days from now we are going through RC screening. “Now there’s a proposed screening on Monday July 29th by RC. Hopefully they will be able to tell me what those cuts are and what issues are at hand then I will take action based on that.” He also mentions “The screening was supposed to happen today Friday July 26th due rains in Mumbai. It was cancelled yesterday because members may not attend following heavy downpour in Mumbai city. Therefore it has been rescheduled for Monday This means three more days of my promotions going for toss.”
Nikkhil Advani also opened up saying: “I’m shocked this time because during Batla House (2019) and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (2023), I had an extremely incredible experience”.
We asked him to explain what happened during these two films. Nikkhil said, “We made Batla House which was also a controversial film. The CBFC, at that time, was on our side and they strongly felt that it was a film which definitely needed to be seen. They were with us when the film was dragged to the Court. There were even tricky sequences in Satyameva Jayate (2018) which was an out-and-out massy film (and yet it got passed).”
He explained, “Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (2023) was a film that India would be extremely proud of considering the incredible role played by Sushma Swaraj ji in the episode. We had changed a few lines that she uttered in Parliament. They pointed that out to us and helped us (get it right).”
He also said, “There were sequences where the character enacted by Rani Mukerji speaks in very raw language by calling whites as harami etc. But this is because her character is semi-educated and belongs to a small town near Kolkata. The RO noticed this objectionably. We told them that this lady’s character is not polished one.” In fact ‘harami’ word according to CBFC is considered as not good for use,” but we ensured abuse word did not appear again any other movie since we have used it here.”
Rani too told Mr. Prasoon and so did I, to illustrate the point we had.
Then, Nikkhil Advani said, “what I am saying is that there are things we would be able to accept. If we had spoken in case there are issues where we may have pushed the envelope. That does not mean that the CBFC has always been completely oblivious to context. But ‘conversation’ is the operative word here.”
Is he aiming for a U/A or an A certificate for Vedaa? “I need a censor certificate right now,” answered Nikkhil Advani with a laugh. Period (laughs).”
“However, obviously I want a U/A; you have seen the teaser of this film which promises a mass actioner.” It also raises an issue but one needs to understand it from within which it was made. And on Monday morning that’s what I will go and tell the RC.”
