Pahlaj Nihalani defends U/A rating for ‘The Jungle Book’

April 8, 2016

Mumbai, Apr 8: Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani wonders why people, especially film producer Mukesh Bhatt, are trashing the board’s decision to give “The Jungle Book” a U/A certificate.

jungle

In an interview, here’s what Nihalani had to say:

Q. Mukesh Bhatt feels the CBFC belongs in the garbage can?

Many people would have the same opinion about some of the films he produces. It’s all a matter of perception.

Q. But why does he suddenly have these hate pangs about the CBFC? Because you gave a ‘U/A’ certification to the beloved children’s story “The Jungle Book”?

Correction. I didn’t. The CBFC, an organisation appointed by the ministry Of information and broadcasting, of which I happen to be the chairperson, thought it sensible and wise to grant ‘The Jungle Book’ a ‘U/A’certificate.

Q. But your board member Mr. Ashoke Pandit has been quoted as saying the decision was yours, not the CBFC’s?

I have nothing to say about his comments. But as a board member, he is not allowed to give out confidential information on a public platform, specially when it is not true.

Q. Coming back to Mukesh Bhatt’s objections to the ‘U/A’ for “The Jungle Book”…

Why is he talking about others’ films? Didn’t have his own release “Love Games” this Friday? Why is he so bothered about certification for “The Jungle Book” when the producer, Siddharth Roy Kapur, has gone on record to say he has no problem with ‘U/A’ for “The Jungle Book”. And there’s one thing that people opposed to the ‘U/A’ certification for “The Jungle Book” need to realise.

Q. What is that?

The film has been given the same rating all over the world in the UK, US, Canada, the Philippines. In the US and UK, it has been given a ‘PG’, parental guidance rating, which is the equivalent of our ‘U/A’. Would Mukesh Bhatt like to throw the American and British censor board in the garbage can as well?

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News Network
April 24,2020

Mumbai, Apr 24: A complaint has been filed with police against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut for allegedly referring to members of a particular community as a terrorist in a video released in support of her sister Rangoli Chandel, an official said on Friday.

The complaint was filed by a lawyer, Ali Kashif Khan Deshmukh, at the suburban Amboli Police Station on Wednesday.

The Twitter account of Chandel, who is also the 33- year-old actor's manager, recently got suspended for alleged hate speech.

According to the complaint, while supporting her sister, Ranaut, in the video, allegedly referred to members of a particular community as "terrorist", the official said.

Ranaut had released the video some time back.

Following the release of the video, Deshmukh submitted an application to the Amboli police seeking registration of a case against the actor, the official said.

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News Network
January 2,2020

New Delhi, Jan 2: Hoping her cinematic voice can help bring about lasting change in how society perceives acid attack survivors, actor Deepika Padukone says her latest film Chhapaak should ideally be so impactful that there won't be need for another story on acid violence.

After all, cinema is in itself such a powerful medium, Deepika told news agency ahead of the release of the film, which is based on the life of acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal.

The idea behind the social drama is to invoke empathy and understanding rather than paint women who have undergone the ordeal as victims, the actor, who has also produced the film, said in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

"Beyond the gruesomeness, the violence and all of that, there is a story of the human spirit and hope. That's why we're telling the story," she said.

Deepika, 33, said it was a story that spoke to her and she felt pride in attaching herself to the project.

Chhapaak, directed by Meghna Gulzar and featuring Vikrant Massey, is the second mainstream film to focus on the subject after 2019 Malayalam movie Uyare starring Parvathy Thiruvothu.

"I hope we won't have to constantly tell stories on acid attack survivors for us to see change. I hope with our film we begin to see that change for ourselves as a society and for acid attack survivors.

"If we don't, then we've done something wrong as a society. Cinema in itself is such a powerful medium that hopefully just through this one film we will hopefully be able to see that kind of change and impact," Deepika said.

The actor said there was not much planning behind the decision to back the film financially.

"Sometimes certain films need a little more hand holding, a little more love and support. I felt like I would be adding a little more value as a producer.

"This is a film I'm very proud of, not just from the script point of view but even in terms of the story and its message," she said.

The film, which releases on January 10, will be Deepika's first release in two years and comes after her marriage to frequent co-star Ranveer Singh.

The actor said she used the time to creatively replenish herself.

"It was about finding a film worthy of putting out there. It's not that work at my end had stopped. I was constantly looking for scripts that challenged and excited me.

"I would look at it as time for creative fertility. It's important to nurture yourself. The work that goes on behind the scenes... most often we're constantly on a film set, but whether it's meeting with writers and directors, looking for scripts... That is also part of the creative process and that's what I've been doing."

The title Chhapaak instantly evokes the image of acid being splattered, and Deepika said the director wanted a word for the film's name that could also lend itself to a song.

"I think she said 'chhapaak', which is the sound of a splash, is something that could adapt or lend itself beautifully to a song. Perhaps, it also has to do with fluidity. So on one hand, liquid is known to take different forms, a liquid such as this (acid) can change someone's life forever," she said.

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News Network
June 22,2020

New Delhi, Jun 22: Musician Madonna, who is a mother of six, wished herself on the occasion of Father's Day on Sunday by posting adorable pictures with her kids.

Along with pictures, the 'Crazy For You' singer penned down a beautiful caption, wishing herself and every parent a 'Happy Father's Day' for nurturing and guiding their children in the best way possible.

"Happy Fathers Day to Me and to every parent out there doing their best to Nurture, Guide, Inspire, and Teach! #Lola #Rocco #David #Mercyjames #Estere #Stella," the 61-year-old singer wrote in the caption.

Madonna is the biological mother to two of her six children and has adopted the rest four.

She had adopted her first child Davida Banda back in 2006 and then she adopted a boy in 2009. The last addition to her family were the twins she adopted from Malawi.

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