The Central Board of Film Certification has refused certificate to the trailer of 72 Hoorain, directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan. The film, starring Pavan Malhotra and Aamir Bashir, focuses on the consequences of violent extremism. Point to be noted is that 72 Hoorain is a National Award winning film.
According to Ashoke Pandit, one of the producers of the film, “We have shown the feet of a dead body, which the CBFC has asked to delete. A reference to the Quran has also been asked to be removed. There’s something else regarding animal welfare too, but that’s not important.”
It may be mentioned here that the film has been duly certified by the CBFC. The trailer consists of scenes already passed in the film. 72 Hoorain was premiered in the Panorama section of the 2019 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where it got the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi medal special mention. In 2021, Chauhan won the National Award for best film direction for the same film.
Earlier this month, prominent religious and political leaders in Kashmir decried the negative portrayal of Muslims in the film, and said that the film hurt the sentiments of the community.
Reacting to the refusal of certificate to the trailer, which, incidentally, was released earlier today (June 28), Ashoke Pandit said, “There’s something wrong with the CBFC. We are going to rip off the Censor Board tomorrow. Who are these people sitting there? It’s a very serious matter.” He added that CBFC chairman Prasoon Joshi was answerable.
