Wounded by Censor Board

Did you know that Shekhar Kapur8217;s Bandit Queen had 250 abuses? That8217;s what Krishna Mishra, writer-cum-director of Wounded, a film ...

Did you know that Shekhar Kapur8217;s Bandit Queen had 250 abuses? That8217;s what Krishna Mishra, writer-cum-director of Wounded, a film starring real-life bandit queen Seema Parihar, claims.

The Censor Board has refused to pass Wounded, objecting to the excessive use of abuses in it. So Mishra and Parihar called a press conference today, where they screened the film8217;s CD.

8216;8216;If Shekhar Kapur8217;s Bandit Queen, with 250 abuses, could be palatable for the audience, why is the Censor Board causing hurdles in my film, which has only 50 abuses,8217;8217; said Mishra. Wounded is based on the real life exploits of dacoits in the ravines of Chambal, with Parihar playing herself on screen.

8216;8216;Dacoits do not chant mantras. When they talk, their conversation is usually replete with abuses. And in this film, we are depicting the real lives of the dacoits,8217;8217; Parihar argued.

According to Mishra, their film was screened before the Censor Board in January. The Board reportedly told him to remove all the abuses if he wanted to get the film passed. Mishra then screened the film before the advisory committee. But the committee too rejected it. Intent on not making any cuts, Mishra has sent the film to the Tribunal, where it has been lying for two months.

Asked what he would do if his film did not get clearance, Mishra retorted: 8216;8216;My film starts with a court scene and ends with a court scene. Similarly, I would take refuge in the court8217;s verdict.8217;8217;

Gujjar threat

Mishra alleged he was under threat from dreaded dacoit Nirbhay Gujjar. Displaying some letters bearing Gujjar8217;s name, Mishra said the dacoit did not want his film to be released because it showed him being beaten up by other bandits.

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Mishra further alleged that this was one of the reasons why Wounded was not getting the necessary clearance. Stating that he had written to the PM, the CM and other senior officers of the UP Government, the filmmaker said there had been no response yet.

8216;8216;When the Station Officer has not come to enquire whether the letters written by Gujjar are real or fake, what can one say about these big people?8217;8217; he said.