30 July,2016 08:40 AM IST | | The Hitlist Team
Makers of Brett Lee's film 'UnIndian' are ready to downsize a sex scene for India release, but not before the Censor Board agrees to an unusual request
The 68-second intimate scene in Anupam Sharma's 'UnIndian' starring former Aussie speedster Brett Lee got the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)'s knickers in a twist, with the makers being asked to cut it down to 26 seconds. Given that the release is just three weeks away, they have decided to accept the Board's suggestion, but there's a rider - and a rather strange one at that.
Tannishtha Chatterjee and Brett Lee
Sharma says, "I have been asked to cut a lovemaking scene to get a U/A certificate. I have agreed since I don't want to hold my distributors to ransom. But since that's not my vision, I have requested the CBFC to insert a line declaring that the scene has been modified for the Indian audience."
The examining committee of CBFC suggested that the "sideways visual and end climactic shot" be removed and the sex scene involving Lee and Tannishtha Chatterjee "not be synchronised with mantra chanting". The sequence runs with a sermon scene in the background where followers chant 'Om Shreem Hreem'.
Tannishtha Chatterjee and Brett Lee's lovemaking and kissing scenes in the film
Sharma insists the scene has been aesthetically shot, but downsizing it will interfere with the intended impact. Although he doesn't agree with the suggested cuts, he is ready to accept them. However, he wants the Board to entertain his request too.
"My advisers told me it is a rather unusual request, but I think it is fair that the audience is informed that is not how I directed the scene and have been forced to cut it. Let's see how it goes," adds Sharma.
The Indo-Australian project is a romantic comedy which also stars Supriya Pathak, Akash Khurana, Pallavi Sharda and Gulshan Grover. It released Down Under last October.
