Not obligated to respond: CBFC chief on Sanjay Nirupam's letter

Censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani wonders why Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam has penned a letter to the CBFC demanding that Madhur Bhandarkar's "Indu Sarkar" -- on the Emergency period -- be screened for the party ahead of its release to "ensure that our leaders are not shown in a bad light".

"Why is he asking the CBFC to show him the film? It is not our property for us to show it to him. He should ask the producer or director," Nihalani said.

The letter emerged in the media on Tuesday.

"It seems the media got the letter addressed to me from Mr Nirupam before I did. Before I read the letter to me, it was out in the press. If, as he says, the film is likely to tarnish his leaders, why is he giving the film publicity by releasing the letter to the media," said Nihalani.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson sees no reason to react to the letter.

"We get such letters from any number of individuals and organisations asking us to stop a film from release. We are not obligated to respond."

--IANS

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