The makers of Akshay Kumar starrer Jolly LLB 2 have been asked to cut four scenes from the film before releasing it in India on 10 February. The decision comes from the Bombay High Court which set up a 3-panel committe to review the film after receiving a complaint that the movie mocks Indian judiciary. While the makers of the film are silent over the judgement, actor Annu Kapoor who’s playing a pivotal role in the film talked to InUth on the same.
When we called him, he mentioned that he was not aware of the entire court intervention in the release of the film. After we informed him about the development in the controversy, he mentioned that this has made the filmmakers look more vulnerable. In a telephonic conversation, Kapoor expressed that if the Bombay HC has given a new judgement, despite the film once been cleared by the Censor Board, it becomes a serious matter. He said:
It becomes a sort of the conflict between the two competent authorities by the government of India. The Censor Board is also an autonomous body of the government of India and so is the High Court. So, it’s bit tricky now. In fact, the main issue should not be between the court and the producer now but between the Censor Board and the High Court. I think the law minister of the government of India and the Information and Broadcasting minister should hold a meeting with the members of CBFC. It’s a serious matter.
Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB2
(Courtesy: Twitter| @akshaykumar)
Talking about how this fiasco has once again proved that there’s no creative liberty, Kapoor said:
We, as filmmakers, actually stand no where. We become the scapegoat. We are suffering because the producers have put a lot of money into the film, thinking and anticipating and honouring that the CBFC is the ultimate authority. I am not talking about some regional groups or some vested interest parties here. I think the honourable law minister and the I&B minster should interevene in this.
But, does Jolly LLB 2 in any way mock the judiciary or feature anything which ‘defames’ the country’s judicial system? Here’s what Annu Kapoor has to say:
When I had read the script of Jolly LLB 2, I did not find any elements mocking the judiciary in it. The director and the writer have expressed and utilised the freedom given to them within the constitution of India, which has given every citizen of India a right — 19 (1) (a), to express. Yes, the right has come with certain responsibilities and the makers have kept those duties and responsibilities under full consideration. We don’t insult any judiciary at all. I don’t feel it. But, if the High Court has said that it ‘defames’ the judiciary, then I want to know what made them think like that.
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Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB2
(Courtesy: TYwitter| @akshaykumar)
There’s no clarity as of now whether the makers of Jolly LLB 2 have accepted the judgement given by the Bombay High Court or whether they have decided to move to the Supreme Court against the decision.
