Recently, there’s been a significant development in the film industry. The CEO of CBFC, Ravinder Bhaker, has been removed from his position, and temporarily, Smita Vats Sharma from the Press Information Bureau will oversee the censor board.
This decision appears to be linked to the certification of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s movie ‘Animal,’ featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol. The film’s explicit content, filled with violence and misogyny, sparked intense debates both within and outside the CBFC.
Questions arose concerning how a film with such levels of violence and demeaning portrayal of women could secure a censor certificate. The film apparently breaches several censorship guidelines. The decision to grant an ‘A’ certificate without editing objectionable scenes has caused controversy nationwide and within the I&B ministry.
Furthermore, this action against Bhaker might not be an isolated one, hinting that more changes could be on the way within the board.
This development might pose challenges for Sandeep Reddy Vanga if he plans to make a sequel, ‘Animal Park,’ with similar unfiltered content.
This incident echoes previous allegations of corruption within the CBFC. Tamil actor Vishal had accused the board of corruption, claiming he had to pay a substantial bribe to get his film passed.
‘Animal’ faced severe criticism post-release due to its depiction of violence, abuse, and its reinforcement of toxic masculinity, drawing backlash from many quarters. This move has stirred significant discussions about the ethics of film certification and content glorifying harmful behaviors in society.
