Want to get your movie banned? Just say Bombay in a dialogue

While we cannot reproduce the list here for obvious reasons, we can tell that it has all the usual suspects and some unusual ones. Some words which are perfectly parliamentary, but have ‘dual uses’ have also been included in the list. So, you cannot use the word ‘Patana’ in a Hindi movie, or the word screw in an English one.

But after all the recent controversy over the deletion of the word ‘Bombay’ from a song, the CBFC has now put in writing that “change of name Bombay to Mumbai as per Government of Maharashtra’s notification dated 4/9/96” should also be taken into consideration. So it remains to be seen what is the impact of the notification, signed by new CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani, on Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet. He has, however, clarified that this particular use is fine as it pertains to the period when Mumbai was Bombay.

The notification says “it has been noticed that some of the objectionable words/abusive words are still not deleted from the films”. The notification directs all ROs (Regional Offices) not to allow such words in any category of the certificate. So this is also applicable in regional languages.

The list also mentions violence against women and glorification of bloodshed as items that should be avoided.

Ashoke Pandit, a member of the CBFC, reacted to the list.

The list of words ‘not to be used in films’ issued by the Chairperson is against the freedom & creative liberty of a filmmaker. #CBFC

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) February 13, 2015

If I am portraying the character of Dawood in my film, he will use the language as per his character & not what a saint would use. #CBFC

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) February 13, 2015