Pahlaj Nihalani's 'Julie 2' cleared without cuts!
The Censor Board's verdict on Pahlaj Nihalani's 'Julie 2' is out. Surprisingly, sources say it has been cleared without any cut! Presenter-distributor Nihalani says this is what he had hoped for his "no nudity, no skin-show, no double-meaning dialogues" movie. Nihalani denies it is erotica and calls it a "family film for adults". Well, the trailer suggests otherwise, but we'll wait and watch.
'Sanskari' Pahlaj Nihalani presents adult movie 'Julie 2'. What!
You read that right. The former Censor Board chief who stayed in news only for his extreme standards of "sanskar" is now shedding the image he portrayed for 2.5 years. During Pahlaj Nihalani's tenure, he refused certification for words like "lesbian" ('Dum Laga Ke Haisha'), being "lady-oriented" ('Lipstick Under My Burkha'), or for referencing real-life issues ('Udta Punjab'). Now he's presenting erotica, 'Julie 2'!
Just to remind you, here's what he had problems with
After he took over as CBFC chief in January'15, Nihalani reportedly issued a list of cusswords that were not to be used, even in A-certified movies. He objected to kissing scenes (James Bond movie 'Spectre' and others). He objected to lingerie on screen ('Baar Baar Dekho'). On the day rumors about his removal abounded, he said "superstars" won't be allowed to drink/smoke on screen.
Or should we have seen this coming?
Nihalani certainly raised ridiculous objections to "non-adult" films for the slightest "indecent" scene, but cleared sex comedies like 'Mastizaade' and 'Kya Kool Hai Hum' with minimum interference. Maybe if "50 Shades of Grey" was a Bollywood production, it would have been allowed too.
So will we be able to see 'Julie 2'?
Nihalani knows what he wants for the "content-driven movie": 'Julie 2' should be given an 'A' certificate without any cuts. A lot has changed in three weeks. Or has it? After all, his own old films- 'Andaz', 'Aankhen' and more- stand out for their suggestive scenes. Will Nihalani be spared by successor Prasoon Joshi? We'll have to see. 'Julie 2' releases on October 6.
