Censors clear 'Rang De Basanti'
by Ruchi Gupta

     New Delhi: Aamir Khan starrer 'Rang De Basanti' which was involved in a controversy for depiction of MIG fighter aircraft as accident prone, has steered clear after being seen by the super censors which included the Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the three chiefs of the defence forces: Air Marshal S P Tyagi, General J J Singh and Admiral Arun Prakash. As per the decision of the Defence Minister and the three chiefs, the producer of 'Rang de Basanti' has been asked to say in the introduction that it is a work of fiction. It has also been suggested that the roll of honour of the pilots who died flying the aircraft be omitted. Though the movie had already been cleared by the censor board, it had created controversy.

    In view of the fact that Russian made MIG aircraft constitute a major part of the IAF fleet the Indian Air Force had reservations about Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's movie Rang De Basanti. The decision to clear the film for public exhibition has been welcomed by film makers and critics. Mike Pandey of River Bank Studios feels the decision taken by the Indian Air Force is positive. He said: "Cinema has come a long way - We live in an independent society, where each one is free to voice his or her view point as long as it does not hurt or is a prejudice to any community". Speaking on the controversy that developed around the movie, Pandey said: "The problem arises when a mountain is made out of a molehill. Even in today's progressive world we do not talk of sex openly and sex education is shunned in schools, still sex scenes are being shown in movies. Instead of looking at things in a flimsy manner, try to look at them in a mature way". The UTV productions has shot scenes in the movie 'Rang De Basanti' focussing on accidents caused to MIG-21.

   The film portrays the lives of young pilots, the risks they undertake while flying and hardships their families undergo after deaths of officers in crashes. "When real life happenings are picked up for picturising, their impact on affected families should be considered. It is very important to take their consent since the movie in a way becomes a replay of the tragedy," Pandey added. Latika Padgaonker, a film critic said: "Art is art and cinema is cinema. This movie is a fictional documentary taking inspiration from real life. Why should it be controversial? Even Deepa Mehta's 'Water' was turned controversial. People do not wish to see the existing reality and they create an uproar." Vinay Rai of Leo Arts welcomed the clearance given to the film and said: 'The media has a role in highlighting the need for modernisation of our defence forces'.

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