F.i.g.h.t C.l.u.b

Controversy’s child Ramu doesnt want to sit silent. After Censor Board banned his jana gana rann promo of the new film Rann, Ramu has now decided to move to High Court to appeal againt the ban.

The film stars Amitabh Bachchan,  Ritesh  Deshmukh, Sujeet and Paresh Rawal in the lead. 

Here is Ramu’s letter about the ban and his plan to move to High Court.

The Censor Board has decided to refuse to certify ‘Jana Gana Rann’ for Public Viewing.

The Censor Board order alleges that the promo violates guidelines 2(xix) of Section 5B2 of the Cinematograph Act 1952 and also constitutes an offence under The Insult to National Honours Act, 1971.

 This action of the Censor Board is arbitary and unconstitutional. Guideline 2(xix) of the Section 5B2 of the Cinematograph Act 1952 says :

“national symbols and emblems are  not shown except in accordance with the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use), Act 1950.”

 According to this interpretation by the Censor Board, no Indian Film can show the Tricolor, Rashtrapati Bhavan or the Parliament House. And, if the Censor Board did take that position, they could ask us for relevant cuts in the promo. In the whole promo of  2 mins and 10 secs there are two shots of the same for exactly 8 seconds.

The Second objection raised by the Censor Board is The Insult to National Honor Act amended in 2003. The relevant section (Section 3) states as under:

 “3. Prevention of singing of Indian National Anthem, etc.

Whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.”

The act relates to preventing the singing of the National Anthem in public or causing disturbance to any assembly. In this case there is no such violation.

Article 19 guarantees freedom of speech and expression and freedom of trade amongst others fundamental rights. Every citizen has the right to freely express and freely carry the trade unless it is contrary to the peace and integrity of the country. By denying me the right to release this promo to the public at large, the Censor Board is violating my fundamental right.

Ramgopal Varma