Anurag Thakur, as a movie-goer, has every right to dislike Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. As minister, he also has the privilege of expressing his views and being heard on many more public platforms. Having done so, however, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting must step back, refrain from crossing the line. He must not undermine the institutional independence and autonomy of the statutory body that is tasked with film certification in the country. By demanding an explanation from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on why it cleared a scene involving lines from the Bhagvad Gita in Oppenheimer, Minister Thakur has done just that. In the process, he has dealt a blow to both artistic freedom and due process.
The members of the CBFC are appointed by the government but the Board is mandated to function independently. Changes, as and where necessary, are suggested to the makers before the film is certified and released. The minister does not have a say in this process, and the certification once given, cannot be revoked. Oppenheimer went through the required paces and was cleared for release. By asking the Board for an “explanation”, the minister is attempting to override the institutional mechanism with a political response. In a climate in which mobs, virtual and real, driven by “hurt sentiments”, often claim legitimacy for their attempts to impose curbs on the right to speech and expression, and succeed, Thakur’s intervention is worrying.
Film-makers — all artists, in fact — have a right to be seen and heard. In fact, as recently as November 2022, the ruling establishment showed more maturity when Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who served as chairperson of IFFI’s international jury, had criticised the screening of The Kashmir Files in the festival, calling it a “vulgar and propaganda” movie. The government, despite many ministers proclaiming in public how much they liked the movie, and agreed with its political content, did not react. There were no ministerial calls to arms against Lapid. That restraint is needed now too. Minister Thakur has sent out the wrong signals. The CBFC must dig its heels in, stand by its earlier decision. If it caves in and makes further changes to Oppenheimer as a result of political pressure, it will only undermine itself.
