Fire awaits NoC’ from Sena for re-release in Mumbai

MUMBAI, Feb 14: Fire, which was passed by the Central Board of Film Certification last week with no cuts, will require further approval b...

MUMBAI, Feb 14: Fire, which was passed by the Central Board of Film Certification last week with no cuts, will require further approval before it is re-released in Mumbai’s cinema halls: a No-Objection Certificate’ from the Shiv Sena.

Shyam Shroff of Shringar Films, Fire’s distributors, said re-releasing the film in Mumbai would depend entirely on the Sena. “It’s like this: My passport has been renewed, but I don’t have a visa,” said Shroff, reacting to the CBFC’s decision. “I don’t have any problems re-releasing the film, but the Sena has to allow it to happen.” The film, directed by Deepa Mehta, was forced out of cinema halls in Mumbai and elsewhere by the Sena for its depiction of a lesbian relationship between the protagonists, Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi. It was referred back to the censor board, which ruled that no cuts were needed. But the Sena will have to spell out its stand if the film has to have a safe run in cinema halls.

“The owner of Cinemagic had told me that he hadno problems re-releasing Fire, provided he got a no-objection certificate’ from the Sena,” Shroff told Express Newsline, adding that he had asked Mehta to approach the central government on the issue. Fire was running to packed houses before it was yanked off.

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Subhash Desai, Sena’s general secretary, said the party has not taken a decision yet. “This is a party where Balasaheb Thackerey decides policy and gives directions. I cannot comment on the matter,” Desai said. However, Pramod Navalkar, minister for cultural affairs said, “Since the film has been approved by the central government, it is no longer a state subject and we cannot interfere.” If there was a law and order’ situation created over the film, then the state government would have to act, he added.

“Fire can be re-released only if the government is willing to stand on the right side of the law and give confidence and security to the distributors, ” commented Azmi. But as Shroff wryly remarked, “If the Sena says goahead, release the film, you don’t need security.”