Abusive language shouldn't be allowed in films: Om Puri

Veteran actor Om Puri, a former chairman of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), says he's against the use of abuses in Indian movies.

The actor, who will be seen in a political comedy film "Jai Ho Democracy", was asked if the Central Board of Film Certification is becoming too harsh as far as banning abusive words is concerned.

To that, he said: "If you use an abusive word 10 times, it doesn't mean your film is a hit. It has become a fashion now. Censor board is doing the right thing... just by giving abusive words (in a movie), would it mean the film will be successful?"

"I'm not in favour of this as many kids and women watch films. Not necessarily every villain has to use abusive words. Abusive language should not be allowed in films according to me," he added.

Written and directed by Ranjit Kapoor, "Jai Ho Democracy" also features Annu Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Adil Hussain and Satish Kaushik.

The movie takes a comical look at how the powers-that-be continue to procrastinate and maintain status quo, unfazed by the gravity of the situation at hand. It also explores the funny side of how the media gets desperate in highlighting unworthy issues; and gives a message of hope of peace between two neighbouring countries.

Om Puri is hoping that the movie gets the right publicity.

He is confident that it will be praised via word of mouth.

At a time when the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is under the scanner for cracking the whip on expletives and cuss words, it is rather surprising that K.C. Bokadia's Dirty Politics starring Mallika Sherawat and Om Puri shows the two actors liberally using Hindi abuses. In fact, members of the CBFC are surprised too.

An insider from the board said, "We haven't certified Dirty Politics. The film got away with loose talk under Ms Leela Samson's regime. But we have to take the rap since we are now the visible face of the Censor Board."

The CBFC source goes on to say that the new board is not in favour of a blanket ban on cuss words and abuses. "We've allowed graphic sexual violence in Badlapur and scenes of verbal and physical violence in NH10 because removing these would have diluted the film's impact. But if we see expletive and violence being thrust into a film for shock value, we won't allow it."

Next under the Censor Board's scanner is a sex comedy called Hunterr. The trailer of the film (that was passed by a different set of members of the board) has references to male anatomical parts as chota and bada Chetan apart from using Hindi abuses. The CBFC intends to clamp down heavily on such lascivious content. "The excuse that this is an adult sex comedy doesn't hold water. The trailer is vulgar. We wonder how it could be passed. We will look at the film carefully and if the sexual content is found to be necessary for the script, we'll deal with it accordingly."