Cinema

Vishal's allegation on CBFC: Ministry of Information and Broadcast responds...

By TNSCorrespondent, 29 September, 2023
Vishal, CBFC, Mark Antony, Mumbai

(This article is authored by Alar)

Actor Vishal’s shocking revelation about the corruption in the film censor board has sparked a massive outrage among the film fraternity and the public. The actor, who is known for his action-packed roles, exposed the dark side of the CBFC and claimed that he had to shell out a hefty bribe of Rs 6.5 lakh to release his film ‘Mark Antony’ in Hindi.

The film, which is a science fiction time travel drama, was directed by Adhik Ravichandran and starred Vishal and SJ Suryah in the lead roles. The film was released on 15th September and received positive reviews from the critics and the audience. However, the actor revealed that he had to face a lot of hurdles and harassment from the CBFC to get the film certified.

In a video and statement, Vishal said that he had to pay a whopping Rs 6.5 lakh to a mediator named Menaga, who claimed to have contacts with the CBFC officials. He said that he had no choice but to pay the bribe as he was running out of time and the film’s release date was approaching. He also said that he had proof of the transaction and he was ready to share it with the authorities.

Vishal’s shocking allegation has stirred up a storm in the film industry and the government. The Ministry of Information and Broadcast, which oversees the CBFC, has taken a serious note of the issue and has ordered an immediate inquiry. Taking to X, the Ministry said that the government has zero tolerance for corruption and the strictest action will be taken against anyone found involved. 

They wrote, "The issue of corruption in the CBFC brought forth by actor @VishalKOfficial is extremely unfortunate. The government has zero tolerance for corruption, and the strictest action will be taken against anyone found involved,"

"A senior officer from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been deputed to Mumbai to conduct an inquiry today itself. We request everyone to cooperate with the Ministry by providing information about any other instance of harassment by CBFC at jsfilms.inb@nic.in."

Vishal’s bold move has been applauded by many film personalities and fans, who have expressed their support and solidarity with him. They have also demanded a thorough investigation and a reform of the CBFC system. Many have also questioned the credibility and transparency of the CBFC and its certification process.

The CBFC, which is supposed to be an autonomous body, has been accused of being biased, arbitrary and corrupt by many filmmakers and actors in the past and has often faced criticism for its censorship policies and its interference in the creative freedom of filmmakers. 

 

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