1992 film on Rajiv awaits Censor nod

Ironically, the film was cleared by the Film Certification Apellate Tribunal (FCAT) and stamped with an Adult certificate in 1993. But with the Chennai Censor Board moving court protesting the contents of the film, final release remained a distant dream.

The film, with former Censor Board chairperson Anupam Kher, whose tenure was cut short by the UPA Government, playing the role of Rajiv, is once again with the FCAT. ‘‘The court has directed the FCAT to examine the matter,’’ sources from the Chennai Censor Board said on Thursday.

The film ran into trouble after its contents were found to be too close to the actual assassination of the former prime minister.

Director R K Selvamani says, ‘‘When we started making the film in the beginning of 1991, the film was about the assassination of a political leader. By mid-May, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi happened and suddenly fiction seemed too close to reality. We added elements of truth to our fictional story and included characters with names like Sivarasan, Dhanu (the human bomb), Nalini after going through the police files,’’ says Selvamani.

Censor Board members in Chennai, however, said the film tackles the LTTE issue and with the then Jain Commission examining the incidents leading up to the assassination, and with the Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Authority still examining the role of certain individuals, the film, it was felt, could come in the way of the inquiry.

Selvamani says the contents of the film may be disturbing to all political parties — AIADMK, DMK or the Congress. ‘‘We have even used voiceovers of DMK chief Karunanidhi, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, but that is no reason for delaying the release,’’ says Selvamani.

The irony is not lost on Kher, who found himself stripped off his powers as Censor Board chairman last year. Of course, he played Rajiv way back in 1991, long before he came to head the Censor Board. But he makes a pitch for it. ‘‘I have a mere 20-minute role, but I found it difficult to get into the character of Rajiv who had lived his life under the glare of media. I even read the book on Rajiv by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to get to understand him better. It is a pity that the film’s release has been delayed,’’ says Kher.

The film was made on a budget of Rs 1.5 crore. The Tribunal’s verdict is awaited.

THE LONG WAIT

• Kuttra-Patirakai is submitted to the Chennai Censor Board in early May 1992 for a certification.

• Certification rejected, no reasons given, says filmmaker Selvamani

• Following a request from Selvamani, the film is sent to the Revising Committee

• Sent to a second Revising Committee in 1993

• Committee asks filmmaker to execute 67 cuts. He refuses.

• Film Certification Appellate Tribunal clears the film with an Adult Certificate in 1993

• Chennai Censor Board moves court

• Matter rests with the Tribunal now