Indian film censors postpone plans for list of banned words

A list of words and actions that India’s film censorship board was planning to ban was recently leaked – but the board has now put the plans on hold following a backlash. The list had been sent to an association of film producers, and as well as a wide range of profanity, the list also banned the mention of Mumbai with its colonial name of Bombay. A ban on depicting violence against women and “glorified bloodshed” was also mooted. Bollywood directors were scornful on seeing the list, with Danish Aslam telling the Hindustan Times: “The words the censor board does not want you to hear, a.k.a words every kid already knows.” Fellow director Hansal Mehta said: “This board has again taken us back in time. They want us to protect Indian culture but it is the culture as the [Hindu nationalist group] RSS wants.” A source at the newspaper now says that a meeting at the Central Board of Film Certification has resulted in plans for carrying out the ban being put on hold, after a number of members objected. It comes as the censor board is in a period of upheaval. After a government reversal of the decision to ban contentious religious film MSG: The Messenger of God, the board’s chief and several members resigned in protest. Director Pahlaj Nihalani was installed as a replacement – he has close connections to the ruling Bharatiya Janata party, and last year directed a music video that glorified Indian PM Nahendra Modi. The worry is that a newly conservative and nationalistic bent to the board will lead to less artistic freedom in film-making.