Anurag Kashyap protests anti-smoking message on-screen

Anurag Kashyap said in a petition he has filed: "Such unreasonable conditions clearly fetter the rights of filmmakers to free speech and expression enshrined by the Constitution of India. Running a scroll not only destroys the aesthetic value but also diverts viewers."

Anurag Kashyap has filed a petition in the Bombay high court challenging the censor board’s anti-smoking disclaimer.



This comes after the Board directed him to insert the ‘cigarette smoking is injurious to health’ message in every shot where smoking is shown in his upcoming film, Ugly.



In the petition, the director said, "Such unreasonable conditions clearly fetter the rights of filmmakers to free speech and expression enshrined by the Constitution of India. Running a scroll not only destroys the aesthetic value of cinema but also diverts viewers from the film… (sic).:"



Now, other film-makers are coming out in support of his view.



Mahesh Bhatt says, "I understand the government’s concern, but I want to ask, 'Are you going to exercise your control only over image makers and bully them, coerce them in the name of a larger good?" Back in 2005, Bhatt had challenged the on-screen smoking ban.



Producer Ramesh Taurani, meanwhile, says that instead of the 'disturbing' anti-tobacco video, there should be a more aesthetic one. "The anti-smoking clips spoil the audiences’ mood. If the government wishes, we will create something more pleasant instead," he says.

Trade expert Amod Mehra says such messages don’t serve any purpose.



"As these clips are constantly run, they lose their effect. I have seen people closing their eyes, going out of the theatre, or simply talking among themselves during the time," he says.



also says that if smoking is such a big issue, the government should ban it. "…they can’t thrust their inability to do that and make it my responsibility to rid the society of social ills," he said in a statement to the press. Anurag filed the petition on Tuesday.



When Woody Allen refused to relent



In October, film-maker Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine didn’t as he refused to comply with the mandatory anti-smoking ads.



As per the guidelines, before every movie, an anti-tobacco ad by the Ministry of Health is screened depicting the hazards of smoking. Also, an anti-tobacco message is aired in scenes that depict smoking.