Now, Pahlaj Nihalani wants to make movie on 'anti-national' FTII students

The Hindu

A file photo of CBFC Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani.

The censor board chief has given us enough fodder for a dark comedy but the humour is draining out fast, writes Surabhi Sharma

Our film censor board chief has, in his relatively brief stint, been exceptionally generous in sharing his ‘mann ki baat’ with the media. Late last night, on the occasion of the global release of a song from his much-awaited magnum-opus, Nihalani-ji provided us with a glimpse of one of his deepest desires: “main chahunga ki hum sab chamchagiri karein apne desh ke liye”(I want all of us to do sycophancy for our country).

His stirring words might provide raw material for “bhoole bisre geet” filmmakers (as he calls them) to make cutting-edge cinema that will, very likely, be banned or cut beyond recognition by the same censor board chief who ignited the idea in the first place. The ban, in turn, might provoke more filmmakers to return their awards. Mr. Nihalani will then brand them “anti-nationals”, his label-of-choice for FTII students of all generations. All these filmmakers “who have never made commercially viable films” could then collaborate in making yet another dark comedy since Mr. Nihalani and his ilk would have, in the meantime, provided that much more fodder.

Our Information and Broadcasting Ministry (which other countries continue to have this institution, by the way?) could look on at the merry-go-round whirring away thanks to their over zealous appointee at the Censor Board. The dizzying roller coaster ride that their appointees at FTII will script is eagerly awaited. The current I & B ministers must have an immense liking for satire since they have chosen their appointees with care and are ready to defend them in the face of every criticism and protest.

Typical of films with black humour the end reel is depressing and sucks the laughter out of the audience. The disturbing last scene of the iconic ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’ made by Kundan Shah (one of those who have returned his National Award) shows the two protagonists with a noose round their necks while the entire state-society machinery of crooks go scot free. In the scripting of this comedy the humour is fast draining out. The FTII students who were named in the midnight swoop by the police on the campus more than two months ago have been ordered by the court to report to the police station as a condition for the grant of anticipatory bail for those who were not arrested that night. Instead of waiting for their academic schedules these students wait anxiously for the court order that will spell out how regularly they need to go the police station.

This is, of course, not the film that Mr. Nihalani wants to make. Even as the government reiterates that it will transform FTII into a Centre of Excellence, Nihalani (who is a de facto member of the FTII Society on account of being the Chairperson of the CBFC) declares that his next film project will publicise the ‘failure of FTII’. His film may or may not be commercially viable, but his vision is fast acquiring form and substance thanks to the unshakeable support he has from his political masters.

That young person in your home wanting to replay the last scene of ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’ and reflect upon its meaning is going to be branded as someone who is against ‘mera desh mahaan’ if she decides to study in the premier film institute of this country. This will hold true if she decides to study history, literature or even mathematics given the shape-shifting attempts currently underway in many of our educational institutions.

(The writer is an alumnus from FTII and is a documentary filmmaker)