New Delhi: Tibetans fighting for autonomy are severely disappointed that a scene in Imtiaz Ali's film Rockstar that showed a 'Free Tibet' banner in the background has been censored by the producers following instructions from the Central Board of Film Certification.
While the film chose to steer clear of any controversy ahead of its November 11 release, the supporters of the Tibetan movement are upset that the CBFC asked the makers to delete the scene showing the 'Free Tibet' flag in the song Sadda Haq so as not to hurt Sino-India ties.
The film was accorded a U/A (universal with parental guidance) rating after the necessary changes were made.
There are few films in Bollywood that have taken an active political stand on the contentious subject of Tibet. The portrayal of the flag in the song was a special moment to the supporters of the movement that has seen violent protests in the past.
The scene was reportedly shot at the Norbulingka monastery in McLeod Ganj, the seat of the Tibet government in exile in India. Rockstar has music by AR Rahman and actors Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri play the lead roles.
Tibetans across India have staged protests, including a cycle rally and march by Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) in Delhi.
SFT Delhi chapter director Spalgon was quoted as saying in The Tibet Post "Censoring such a strong message not only shows the violation of free speech...but also shows the clear sign of how the Chinese government is starting to pressurize India and playing with its largest pride - Indian democracy."
In a letter to Leela Samson, Chairperson of the CBFC, the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) president Dolkar Lhamo Kirti called on the CBFC to "rescind their decision, which is an affront to the dignity of the six million Tibetans and a shameful violation of freedom of speech and expression," the Tibet Post reported.
The decision was apparently taken as per the Cinematography Act, 1952, which issues guidance that films should ensure that "friendly relations with foreign States are not strained".
The changes ordered by the board included the muting (beeping no longer allowed) of the words 'sex' and 'bastard' in the soundtrack, words that commonly occur in our films and would have been allowed if the Rockstar team had agreed to an 'A' certificate.
Likewise, a Hindi expletive which apparently Ranbir Kapoor's character uses whenever he's emotionally aggravated, has been muted wherever it occurs.
Again, the word, common in the films of Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bhardwaj and other purveyors of cowbelt lingo, was not permissible in a film passed for kids with parental guidance.
Most notable of all is the board's instruction to do away with a reference to Tibetan freedom from Chinese dominion. Apparently, Ali was asked to do away with a flag in the film that reads 'Free Tibet'.
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