Highway telecast on Doordarshan not stopped by CBFC

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…Reports that Imtiaz Ali's Highway has been stopped from telecast on Doordarshan by the censor board due to its depiction of child abuse, are false.

One has it from very reliable sources that the chairperson of CBFC Pahlaj Nihalani personally intervened and cleared the film for telecast on national television for all ages.

Says a source, "Though it's not official yet, the Chairperson has passed the film for Doordarshan screening without any cuts with a 'U' certificate. It was for Adults Only when screened theatrically."

Giving the official version of the facts pertaining to the certification of Highway for Doordarshan the CBFC's CEO Shravan Kumar states, "For telecast of content on Doordarshan, they have their own elaborate guidelines, which are issued by them from time to time and therefore it is not a factually correct statement to say that "the board has deemed the film unsuitable for screening on Doordarshan…" as stated in a tabloid report. CBFC's role is limited to Certification of the film, which is done as per the laid procedure of going through Examining Committee, Revising Committee and appeal through FACTspan. In case of Highway, the film had already got a certificate of 'U/A' from CBFC. The producer submitted a fresh request of certification after adding certain excision/modifications. The Examining Committee did not find it suitable for granting a 'U' certificate. Therefore, it was referred to a Revising Committee. Screening before the RC was held on March 27, 2015 and there was a difference of opinion. Now as per the rules, Chairman has to take a decision, whether to go with the majority opinion or to send for a re-Revision.

Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more