'Aarakshan' gets clean chit from censors

“…the news on Aarakshan is that it was shown to the censors today and they have unanimously given it a U/A certificate without a single cut. And apparently they got in the largest panel of members to see it, including various dignitaries and representatives from those committees and commissions that represent areas that were feared could be controversial!” Amitabh posted on his blog on Monday night.

“That is quite an accomplishment I should say by the director and his film, considering that there was a great deal of talk on the possibilities of it becoming so!” he added.

Last week, representatives of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NSCS) demanded a special preview of the film about caste-based reservations in the educational system prior to its release Aug 12.

But Jha had denied it, saying that he would show the film only to the censor board and that it was their prerogative to show it to any other authorities.

Sharing an insight into the subject of the movie, the 69-year-old veteran posted: “Aarakshan (is) a film on the reservation policy of the country where the issue of securing placements in education and jobs with the intent of providing provision for the under privileged and the poor and for those that get affected because of their caste.”

“A film that looks deep into the commercialization of the educational system, of capitation and equal opportunities, of coaching institutes for those that are affluent, of luring the best teachers to them to secure good merit …at a fee of course! A bold and intense look within, not taking any sides, but working along with them to a level of awareness and possible solution…,” he wrote. The movie also features Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpayee and Prateik Babbar.