FILMMAKER SUMAN Ghosh’s movie Aadhaar, which was slated for launch in February, has hit a roadblock.
According to Ghosh, every week earlier than its launch he was knowledgeable by the movie’s producers – Reliance-owned Jio Studios — that its launch has been placed on indefinite maintain over objections raised by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which points Aadhaar playing cards. UIDAI had additionally proposed 28 cuts within the movie, he was instructed. The movie had been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2019 and had its world premiere at Busan International Film Festival that 12 months.
“In 2019, my film had been certified. I was asked to make three cuts by Prasoon Joshi [CBFC chairperson] and I had agreed to them. My film was ready to be released, the trailer was out. Then suddenly everything is put on hold. I have not received any written correspondence from the UIDAI, and my requests to them have not elicited any response. I now decided to put this matter in the public domain as nothing was moving,” Ghosh instructed The Indian Express over the cellphone from Kolkata.
The movie, which narrates the story of Pharsua, the primary man in his village to get an Aadhaar card, stars Vineet Kumar Singh, Sanjay Mishra and Raghubir Yadav.
“I don’t even have a full list of the objections they have issued. Apparently, the dialogue ‘Main Aadhaar Hoon’ [I am Aadhaar] was found to be concerning. Then there is this scene where the privacy aspect of the Aadhaar number is being discussed,” mentioned Ghosh, who has additionally directed The Argumentative Indian, a documentary on Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
Sources within the UIDAI, in the meantime, mentioned the movie violates a copyright problem.
“In this regard, Drishyam films had approached UIDAI in December 2018 to seek permission for using Aadhaar name, Aadhaar logo and to shoot their movie at the UIDAI Regional Office, Ranchi,” mentioned a supply. “Since UIDAI holds copyright of Aadhaar logo, so the said request was denied and duly communicated at that point of time itself in writing. Despite this, the film was shot which, prima facie, profusely used Aadhaar name and Aadhaar logo etc. This purported to give a false impression to viewers that this movie had UIDAI support.”
“To dispel such wrong impressions, the UIDAI requested the producers to keep a disclaimer in the movie conveying that the UIDAI doesn’t support or endorse this movie in any way. The UIDAI has no comments to offer on the artistic content of the movie.”
The UIDAI’s objections had come earlier than the tenure of its present CEO Dr Saurabh Garg, who changed Sanjeev Kumar in March.
Ghosh mentioned he has not obtained any written correspondence from the UIDAI and solely the producers, Jio Studios, had been saved within the loop. Jio Studios didn’t reply to The Indian Express for a remark.
These developments happened earlier than the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal was abolished, and the brand new Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 was thrown open to the general public. The new modification empowers the central authorities to vary certification supplied by the CBFC.
“It’s very concerning. I have no recourse. Where do I go? I am ready to have a discussion with the UIDAI. Also, as the film has already been cleared for screening purposes, how can an additional government body have so much power to stay the release of a film?,” mentioned Ghosh.
