Question mark over Major Saab

MUMBAI, June 16: Uncertainty clouds Amitabh Bachchan's comeback film Major Saab, scheduled for release on June 26. The Censor Board has alre...

MUMBAI, June 16: Uncertainty clouds Amitabh Bachchan8217;s comeback film Major Saab, scheduled for release on June 26. The Censor Board has already cleared the film with minor cuts and issued an U/A certificate, but the final certificate is expected only after it gets a no-objection NOC from the Army. While those involved with the distribution of the film in Mumbai said that things were on track and the film had got the NOC, sources in New Delhi said that a special screening was held this evening, attended by some high-ranking officers of the Army Headquarters. And the final decision would be taken after these officers turned in their reports.Apparently, Bachchan himself was in New Delhi on Sunday to speed up the clearance and met Chief of Army Staff General Ved Prakash Malik in this regard.

The film8217;s Officer and Gentleman story pits Bachchan8217;s hard-as-nails training officer against Ajay Devgan8217;s rebel cadet in the environs of the National Defence Academy NDA, Khadakvasla, Pune.

The armythrew open the NDA8217;s doors to the crew of Major Saab. quot;The film needed an approval from the army since the ABCL had entered into an agreement with the NDA before shooting began at the academy,quot; said Shyam Shroff of Shringar films, Mumbai distributor of the film.

However, trouble began just before the NDA passing out parade last May. NDA officials raised objections to several scenes in the film, especially the one where third-degree torture is being inflicted on cadets of the NDA. This, said the Army sources, is patently untrue, whereas the scene showing Devgun, a cadet, getting married was inaccurate as only officers get married while still in the NDA and it takes four years for a cadet to become an officer. And finally, they raised objection to a scene in which officers at the NDA, who are instructors, and cadets get together to beat up some civilians. This Army sources, again said, has never happened in the history of the NDA.

The academy then wrote to the Information and Broadcasting Ministryasking them to withhold clearance to the film. They argued that parents of prospective cadets would, after watching the physical violence bit, think twice before sending their children to the academy.

While Bachchan has not returned to Mumbai yet, the film8217;s director, Tinnu Anand, who is busy with the final mixing of the film, was unavailable for comment.