Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani faces a revolt by members

NEW DELHI: Dissent against Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani appears to be gathering strength with some members planning to make a formal representation to PM Narendra Modi and I&B minister Arun Jaitley. Members of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have expressed concern at Nihalani's unilateral decision making style and cavalier attitude.

Board members said that cuss words were still being arbitrarily snipped from films (despite the Board's opposition) and decisions being made on films without taking the Board in to confidence."There are a few of us who feel that the chairperson has been working on his own accord without listening to anyone on the Board. This is unfair. We are planning to approach the PM and the I&B minister on the issue,'' the member said.

Nihalani however denied that the cuss list had been re-circulated. "I am doing my job according to the rules and the allegations made are completely baseless and false. The members who are complaining actually don't want to work,'' he said.

Nihalani has faced social media derision after the Board ruled kissing scenes of Daniel Craig with Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux in the new James Bond release Spectre as too extensive and had them trimmed by half.

Former I&B secretary and Board member Raghu Menon in a recent letter to fellow members said that he was 'disturbed' at being treated in a 'cavalier and offhand fashion' by CBFC chairman and CEO and the utter insensitivity and disregard of the I&B ministry. Announcing that he would not attend any more Board meetings Menon said, "I have closely observed and have been involved in the working of the CBFC for the last 20 years in various capacities when it was headed by luminaries like Shakti Samanta, Vijay Anand, Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore, Leela Samson etc, but never have I seen it sink to such levels of total disregard for the Board Members. It would be better to disband the Board if it is found to be so irrelevant.''

Nihalini however said that Menon's term was over earlier this month so there was no question of him attending any meetings.

Producer Ashoke Pandit had on Wednesday tweeted that Nihalini should not act as an official spokesperson for the party and questioned if the censor chief had used his influence to screen a video praising PM Modi appending it to a recent Salman Khan starrer in theatres.

According to sources another member—actor and former BJP contestant from Assam--George Baker felt that Menon's email was disturbing. "The entire board should be taken into confidence and a meeting should be held to either approve or ratify what should be done. Arbitrarily taking decisions without taking the board into confidence should not reflect on the board and any adverse repercussions should not be placed on the shoulders of the board.''

Former St Xavier's college professor and Board member Nandini Sardesai said that she had been informed that Nihalani had circulated the cuss list with instructions to regional officers asking them to implement it while film writer Mihir Bhuta suggested that representations should be made to the PM and I&B minister, sources said.