CBFC orders to mute 'cow', 'Gujarat' in documentary on Amartya Sen

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Wednesday ordered to mute four words - 'Gujarat', 'Hindu India', 'Cow' and 'Hindutva view of India' - in a documentary featuring Amartya Sen.

Filmmaker Suman Ghosh will not be releasing his documentary 'Argumentative Indian' in Kolkata this weekend which documents the life of Nobel Laureate.

Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said, "I found their point of view very bizarre, because there are certain words which I cannot use in the films. Any healthy democracy allows voice of opposition to listen, but I do not know why they are acting so weird. I was told the film can only release once the words, which are used in the film in the context of the current political climate, are censored."

Further speaking on scrutinising every single shot from the documentary, Ghosh stated that he had to wait for three long hours and then was called to mute the words.

"I had a conversation with the CBFC yesterday and hope that the matter resolves peacefully. I am aware of whatever has been going on in movies like 'Udta Punjab', 'Lipstick under My Burkha' and many more. After sitting for three hours at the Censor Board office in Kolkata, during which my documentary was screened and the members scrutinised every single shot, and was also told to mute four words 'Gujarat', 'Cow', 'Hindutva view of India' and 'Hindu India' for getting U/A certificate," he said.

In the documentary, Sen speaks of social choice theory, development economics, philosophy and the rise of right wing nationalism across the world including India.

It has been made over a span of 15 years from 2002 and is structured as a conversation between Sen and his student economist Kaushik Basu.