Why a censor board, ask B-town celebs

Mumbai, Jan 31 (IANS) In the wake of the controversy surrounding actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan’s multi-lingual offering “Vishwaroopam”, Bollywood celebrity Farhan Akhtar raised a question over the authority of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), while Abhishek Bachchan said viewers must be free to choose films they want to see.

Kamal Haasan’s “Vishwaroopam” faced a ban from the Tamil Nadu government on Jan 25, after various Muslim organisations objected to certain content in the movie which allegedly shows the community in bad light. The matter went to the Madras High Court too.

Reacting to how the issue snowballed into a controversy, here’s what the Bollywood celebrities tweeted Thursday:

Farhan Akhtar: Apart from harassing the filmmaker, isn’t the ban of ‘Vishwaroopam’ ridiculing the CBFC? Should their authority not be protected? And if their decision cannot be upheld, why subject film makers to this review?

Abhishek Bachchan: Offended by a film or its contents? Simple solution… Don’t buy the ticket to see the film. Let the audience decide for themselves.

Karan Johar: A zone of shame for a sham of a political scenario. Kamal Haasan needs not only our support but fraternity proactivity… Like now!!

Goldie BeReema Kagti: Shutting down creative enterprise in the name of religion is the sign of an intolerant, unhealthy and backward society. ‘Vishwaroopam’.

Pooja Bedi: Why would people that haven’t even seen ‘Vishwaroopam’ be attacking theatres with petrol bombs? Just shows violence is political and not because of film.

IANS 2013-01-31 18:02:01