Mohalla Assi: High Court sends notice to Censor Board on objectionable trailer

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday (June 26) issued a notice to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on the trailer of the film Mohalla Assi, which was released a few days back.The petition has been filed by a Lucknow-based organization, Hindu Front For Justice.

After hearing the petition, the court has asked the Censor Board to inform it in writing why the film’s trailer was approved with such objectionable language. The court has also inquired whether the CBFC approved the trailer that has found its way to the internet. The board is supposed to answer the court by June 30.

The complainant had contended in its petition that the film has violated the ethical norms of the society, used foul and abusive language and had hurt religious sentiments, and hence should be banned. Mohalla Assi  portrays Varanasi as a city of fun and frolic, drugs and abuse, and in some scenes, a man (a bahrupiya) masquerading as Lord Shiva has been shown mouthing obscenities. A complaint has also been filed against Sunny Deol, the lead actor of Mohalla Assi, and the film director Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi for using such language and for the poor portrayal of the city and Hindu gods.

The film is based on a novel Kashi Ka Assi, by acclaimed Hindi writer Dr Kashinath Singh. Apart from Sunny Deol, Mohalla Assi stars Ravi Kishen and Sakshi Tanwar. Sunny Deol plays the lead role of a Sanskrit teacher and orthodox pandit, while Sakshi Tanwar plays his wife.

Source : India Today