Javed Akhtar on Aligarh

“To stop the screenings of a film is wrong. We have a film certification board, which watches films and tells what needs to be cut. So, when it has given a clearance to the movie, if you remove (it from the theatres) by extra-constitutional ways then it is not right,” said Javed Akhtar.

Javed Akhtar

Iconic writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar on Thursday said cancelling shows of the new film Aligarh in the city of Aligarh was nothing short of extra-constitutional bullying tactics.

“To stop the screenings of a film is wrong. We have a film certification board, which watches films and tells what needs to be cut. So, when it has given a clearance to the movie, if you remove (it from the theatres) by extra-constitutional ways then it is not right. If you have a complaint, go to the court. But to take off a film by bullying is wrong (sic),” the 71-year-old poet told the press in Delhi while launching a new television show titled The Golden Years 1956-75: A Musical Journey With Javed Akhtar.

The critically-acclaimed Aligarh has generated controversy owing to its theme pertaining to homosexuality. The film narrates the true story of Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who taught Marathi at Aligarh University, and who was sacked on charges of being gay, after a TV sting showed him in a compromising position with a rickshaw puller at his campus flat.

“Homosexuality has nothing to do with culture. When (Deepa Mehta‘s film) Fire was made, a lot of hullabaloo was created and it was taken off from theatres, then taken to court. Homosexuality exists in human race. it is everywhere in the world (sic),” he said.

Akhtar said pulling Aligarh off the screens pertained to hindrance of freedom of expression. “Democracy has no meaning without freedom of expression. It is taken for granted but no freedom in the world is limitless. Freedom of expression cannot be limitless, but what should be the limit is a serious question. To decide this is very difficult because if you don’t put the limit, people will take wrong advantage and if you put a limit to it then they will try to suppress you. So where is the right balance is something we need to think about (sic),” said Akhtar.http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/taking-off-film-by-bulling-is-wrong-javed-akhtar-on-aligarh/1/611697.html