Aarakshan: Jha agrees to drop 'objectionable' scenes

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Mumbai: Twenty-four hours ahead of the release of his controversial socio-political drama 'Aarakshan', filmmaker Prakash Jha has sealed a deal with the Republican Party of India to ensure the film's smooth release in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

Jha has agreed to delete certain controversial scenes and dialogues, which pro-reservation activists said would harm the interests of the educationally backward classes.

Jha, during a press conference in Mumbai, said he is hoping that the film will eventually be released in Punjab and UP. While UP banned the film on Wednesday, the Punjab government has ordered an interim ban, subject to a report of a seven-member preview committee. The Punjab government's action followed intelligence reports that the movie could incite violence.

Both Punjab and UP have big Dalit vote banks and go to polls next year. In Mumbai, security has been tightened around the two homes of Amitabh Bachchan who stars in the film, despite a deal with the RPI.

"We have agreed to make minor changes following objections. There are certain dialogues and scenes that have been edited. Reservation is not a necessity but a Constitutional truth and we have been very careful about depicting it in the film," Jha said.

"I am hopeful about release in Punjab and UP. I am a die hard optimist. What can I say about the Censor Board, you should ask the Censor Board and the government of this country. I can't tell the exact scenes but I have been given pointers which I will follow," he said.

Mayawati government banned the Amitabh Bachchan-Saif Ali Khan starrer in Uttar Pradesh for two months citing law and order problem. Punjab followed suit on the ground that some scenes and dialogues in the film may trigger trouble.

Jha, who held a press conference in Mumbai, said he was ready to make minor changes in the film, respecting concerns voiced by different political bodies.

The director said he has been given an assurance by political leaders that the movie's release will face no hurdle in Maharashtra. When asked about the ban in UP and Punjab, Jha said he is trying to resolve the matter amicably.

"It (the ban) could be because of political reasons. We are discussing the matter with people there. With a sensitive issue like this there is always doubt but we are trying to discuss and resolve it. What else can I do," he said. The director said his film is not only about reservation but also deals with the commercialisation of education.

The high level panel of the UP government said that various characters in the film gave views in favour of and against the reservation provided to SC/ST and backward classes under the Constitution, according to an official in Lucknow.

In New Delhi, Punia said the film needs some major revisions and its release should be deferred keeping in mind the sensibilities of the backward communities in the country.

"The makers of this movie have made a mockery of the judgements passed by courts and decisions taken by government by using objectionable dialogues such as 'Aarakshan hamara janamsiddh khairat hai and 50 per cent mein kya hoga, ab 100 per cent quota le jao'," Punia said.

Asked if the movie is released without recommended cuts, he said, "We have requested them to make the cuts, our job ends here. We are not going to fight. Being a Constitutional body it was our responsibility and under Article 338, it comes in our purview." A nine-member team of the Censor Board had given a U/A

certificate to the film without any cuts. (With additional information from PTI)

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