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‘Azaadi mubarak Bollywood’: Twitter celebrates removal of CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani

Pahlaj Nihalani is out as India’s censor board chief and Twitter can’t stop wondering who will now protect India from the onslaught of everything ‘unsanskari’.

Updated on: Aug 12, 2017, 15:49:50 IST
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Pahlaj Nihalani is out as India’s censor board chief and Twitter can’t stop wondering who will now protect India from the onslaught of everything ‘unsanskari’.

Pahlaj Nihalani is out as India’s censor board chief and Twitter can’t stop wondering who will now protect India from the onslaught of everything ‘unsanskari’. (@Sangy_Sagnik Twitter)
Pahlaj Nihalani is out as India’s censor board chief and Twitter can’t stop wondering who will now protect India from the onslaught of everything ‘unsanskari’. (@Sangy_Sagnik Twitter)

Nihalani, in his two-and-half-year reign, earned controversy for his brand of censorship and was often accused by film makers for encroaching their creative freedom.

The man, who worked with the BJP ahead of the 2014 general elections, took it upon his shoulders to tirelessly ‘preserve the culture and tradition’ of the country. He kept children (and adults) from hearing words like ‘intercourse’ and watching ‘lady-oriented’ films (Lipstick under my Burkha), all ‘in the interest of the nation’.

He trimmed down a kissing scene in the last instalment of the James Bond franchise, Spectre, recommended 89 cuts be made in Shahid Kapoor-starrer Udta Punjab, and banned the movie Unfreedom simply because it dealt with homosexual themes.

Recently, he asked the makers of The Argumentative Indian, a documentary on Nobel laureate Amartya Sen for dropping the use of words such as “cow”, “Hindutva” and “Gujarat” and wielded his scissors for Indu Sarkar, seeking 12 cuts.

Social media was happy that finally, flowers and bees won’t be used on the silver screen to signify sex. Here is a round-up of the wittiest responses to #PahlajNihalaniSacked:

  • Atisha Jain
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Atisha Jain

    Atisha Jain was part of Hindustan Times’ nationwide network of correspondents that brings news, analysis and information to its readers. She no longer works with the Hindustan Times.

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