South Central 33: The CBFC’s absurd demand of 127 cuts…

South Central 33: The CBFC’s absurd demand of 127 cuts for Punjab 95, director Honey Trehan speaks

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Leena Reghunath first discuss the controversy around director Honey Trehan’s film Punjab 95, starring Diljit Dosanjh, based on the life and death of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film’s release has been stalled by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which demanded close to 127 cuts, including crucial sequences showcasing police brutality.

Director Honey Trehan says, “Khalra has been part of my childhood, the story of my land. I feel like he has been abducted again now, with his story being censored.” He adds that challenging Khalra’s story is equal to challenging the Constitution itself, because it is an assault on our right to freedom of speech and expression.

Writer Amandeep Sandhu joins in and says, “Punjab has faced several injustices and this film reflects one such chapter. The government cannot create desolation and suppress the truth and call it peace. If it wants to be on the right side of history, it must release Punjab 95.”

Host Dhanya Rajendran says that the same CBFC which is holding back Punjab 95 cleared Kerala Story, which made false claims about the number of women leaving Kerala, indoctrinated by alleged Islamic conversion to join the ISIS.

Leena Reghunath points out how parallelly, in Kerala, Suresh Gopi-Anupama Parameswaran starrer Janaki v. State of Kerala faces uncertainty in release after the CBFC asked for the name Janaki to be changed.

In the second half of the episode, the hosts discuss the recent by-election in Kerala’s Nilmabur, in which UDF candidate Aryadan Shaukath won. He defeated CPI(M)'s M Swaraj with a margin of 11,077 votes, reclaiming a seat that had been lost in 2016. Dhanya and Leena are joined by senior journalist MG Radhakrishnan who weighs in on what the result means for Kerala’s politics.

“UDF’s Nilambur win in Kerala is a strong blow to the ruling LDF, but it is a bit too early to read too much into it. Whether this points to an anti-incumbency sentiment or not is debatable, considering the UDF’s vote margin was not very high,” he said.

Leena observes that considering VD Satheesan’s strong stance on not picking PV Anvar as UDF candidate, and his decision benefitting the UDF, elevates Satheesan’s stature in the party.

Meanwhile, Dhanya asks an unrelated question that most keen observers of Kerala politics want to ask– “What is happening with Sashi Tharoor?!”

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