They want us to promote RSS version of Indian culture: Hansal Mehta

The Pahlaj Nihlani-led Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) list of words to be banned from our movies has ruffled many feathers in the film fraternity.

The Pahlaj Nihlani-led Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) list of words to be banned from our movies has ruffled many feathers in the film fraternity.

Reacting strongly to the diktat, Shahid-fame filmmaker Hansal Mehta told Hindustan Times that he will continue to make films the way he does and added his movies will be a form of protest against the "backward mindset". "I will continue making films and if we are so backward, my films will be my form of protest," Hansal said.

"It is going from bad to worse. The censor seems arbitrary, but there is always an agenda that governs the board. Earlier, we had people who belonged to the modern world. The time when Mr Vajpayee was in power, Arvind Trivedi became the CBFC chief and it was the same thing...we had discussions on how we need to only promote our culture," the national-award winning director said.

"This board has again taken us back in time. They want us to protect Indian culture but it is the culture as the RSS wants," Hansal added.

He, however, expressed hope that things will be corrected soon. "Let's see what happens...a few members of the board have opposed the list of banned words so hopefully good sense will prevail."

Filmmaker-Hansal-Mehta