Censor Board, cops close in on Kanti Shah

Kanti Shah

Kanti Shah, director

Last month, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani registered an FIR against producer Kanti Shah for "illegal interpolation of vulgar content" in horror-erotica, 'Ghost House'. The Board had cleared the film with an 'A' certificate, but theatres were, shockingly, screening portions that weren't part of the censor copy. Interpolation is common with B-grade films, but in this case, Nihalani claimed that the footage was 80 per cent interpolated.

Anurag Srivastav, CEO, CBFC

CBFC member Ashoke Pandit, who had certified the film originally, says, "I remember watching the movie. It was terrible, and I had made many cuts. The film that is playing in theatres is entirely different from the one certified by us. They are showing a porn film to people. There should be criminal proceedings against Shah for tampering with certified content, but I am not sure what the status of the case is."

Poster of Gunda, Kanti Shah's cult B-grade classic

Clearly, that hasn't happened yet, although DCP Vinayak Deshmukh of MIDC Police Station (Andheri East) says, "The probe is underway. We are trying to find solid evidence against Shah."

The film, which released in a few parts of Maharashtra, including Nagpur, and several small centres in North India, continues to find screens in towns.

When quizzed on the same, Shah said, "I am at a Ganpati Puja right now. It is an auspicious day, not the right time to talk about this."

Repeated queries to Nihalani went unanswered. He had earlier summoned Shah on finding out about the film from an exhibitor in Nagpur. But, when the producer didn't show up at his office after repeated requests, Nihalani took the legal route. After all, one of the major amendments suggested by the CBFC boss in the Cinematograph Act was taking interpolation seriously.

Anurag Srivastav, CEO of CBFC, says, "The CBFC had filed the FIR. We weren't asked for any specific document or reference. Once the complaint is filed, we don't have much role to play. The police have to give us feedback."