Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Anand Patwardhan</span>, documentary filmmaker, on his movie `War And Peace'' and the tussle with the Censor Board:<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What are your problems with the Censor Board?</span><br />First there were delays. Then they prevented even the official, non-commercial screenings organised by films division.TheCensor Board finally saw our film and demanded cuts which cannot in any way be justified.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why do you think they want the cuts?</span><br />Judging from the nature of the cuts asked for, I can only assume that someone with a politically-motivated agenda is in charge at the Censor Board. For instance, they have asked me to delete all "visuals and sound for all political leaders. They are obviously embarrassed by what some of their own party leaders have said in public speeches and on television. I merely reported these speeches, which I have a fundamental right to do. If we had a neutral, level playing field, I am sure this film would pass without cuts as it is a film for peace and harmony.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">The censor board has given the list of cuts they want. Will you agree to these?</span><br />Of course not. If I agreed to these cuts I may as well give up being a documentary film maker and make x-rated films. I believe the Censor Board is now keen to allow these, on the grounds that they will bring in tax revenue. Mind you, I am not opposing x-rated films as I agree that a bunch of people at the Censor Board are hardly qualified to dictate public morality. I am merely pointing out the irony of a Censor Board that is becoming liberal about pornography, but considers my factual reportage to be worse than "x" rated. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How do you plan to show the film?</span><br />I will continue to scream and shout for justice. I will make the suppressing of my film counter-productive as more and more people will hear about this blatant undemocratic act and wonder why it is being done.<br />I spent almost four years working day and night to make it. Apart from being an anti-nuclear film, it is a film which tries to promote health and communal harmony and revive the gentle but firm conviction of Mahatma Gandhi that truth and ahimsa will triumph. </div> </div>