The Central Board of Film Certification is not just troubling the Indian film fraternity anymore. Claiming its new international victim, Brett Lee, the board has given red signal to his debut 'UnIndian'. On being asked to tone down a one minute eight second love making scene between the former cricketer and actress Tannishta Chatterjee, the filmmakers agreed to the alteration and cut down the scene into a total of 26 seconds.
The Examining Committee said, "Remove the sideways visual and end climatic shot. The sex scene not to be synchronised with the mantra chanting." It also asked the makers to make the amendment if they expect a U/A. Upset, director Anupam Sharma said, "The love scene runs simultaneously with a sermon scene where followers chant 'Om Shreem Hreem' which are spiritual chants and not religious. I'm a practising Hindu myself so there is no way I would offend anyone's sentiments."
He added, "My film is not as politically powerful as 'Udta Punjab' so I don't have to make a statement. I cannot lose out on my audience at the cost of retaining my interest as a filmmaker. We have about three weeks left for release (August 19), so I will oppose the cut from my end. At the same time, I cannot hold my distributors and producer at ransom. I wonder how no lesson has been learnt, even after the Bombay High Court making it clear that the CBFC does not have the power to 'censor' films. Of all films, this one is the last film that needs to run into controversy."
