NEW DELHI, 2 December 2007 — Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati yesterday decided to lift the ban imposed on Madhuri Dixit’s comeback film “Aaja Nachle” following an apology by producer Yash Chopra who has also decided to remove the objectionable parts of the title song’s lyrics.
Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said: “We have just received a formal apology from Yash Chopra, who has agreed to not only remove the objectionable portions from the title song but has also assured us that he will not use those lines in any of his future films.
“In view of the apology and his assurance, the state government has decided to lift the ban. Movie halls will begin screening the movie by Saturday evening,” Singh added.
The state government had Friday banned the screening of the film following objections by Dalit leaders who had alleged that the title song made derogatory insinuations against the community.
Shailesh Khanna, the principal secretary to the chief minister, had Friday said: “The title song contains an objectionable reference to a particular Dalit community. This is against the spirit of the Indian constitution.”
“Bazar mein machi hai maramar; bole mochi bhi khud ko sunhar” (There is so much chaos in the market that even a cobbler is calling himself a jeweler) — was the objectionable line of the title song.
Trouble first erupted when Udit Raj, who heads the Indian Justice Party, Friday led a demonstration in front of a movie hall in New Delhi where the film was being screened.
Earlier, Punjab too banned the movie yesterday. “The direction (regarding movie’s ban) comes into force with immediate effect, and is taken after consideration of safety of life and property of the people of the state,” Harcharan Bains, media advisor to Punjab Chief Minister, said.
Ramdas Athawale (Republican Party of India) raised the issue in Lok Sabha yesterday, claiming that title song humiliated Dalits. Supporting him, Mohammad Salim (Communist Party of India-Marxist), said that writers and poets, besides the government and the Censor Board, should respect democratic principles and be sensitive on issues.
Information and Broadcasting Minister P.R. Dasmunshi informed the House that film producer Chopra had announced deletion of controversial portions of the title song. “The government does not interfere in functioning of Censor Board, which is headed by eminent film personality Sharmila Tagore. The appellate board, where anyone can appeal, is headed by senior judge Usha Mehra,” Dasmunshi said.
Speaking to a news agency, Tagore said: “The music of the film has been in market for a long time now, but nobody had registered any complaints. The line has been taken out of context. My committee which had reviewed the film had seen it as a profession-based remark and not a caste-based slight or insult.”
Admitting that some “miscalculation” had led to objectionable line being “slightly overlooked,” Tagore said lyrics being in a light-hearted manner, it was felt they could not offend anyone.
Welcoming filmmakers’ decision to voluntarily withdraw the line, she said: “The state government can ban a film if it creates a law and order problem. But I don’t see any reason for any government to ban the film because the questionable line has been removed, and I saw the movie myself in a theater in Mumbai and there was no problem and there were no spontaneous protests anywhere in the country.”
Though the crisis seems to be abating, the film is still in hot waters. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has decided to summon all those associated with controversial lyrics. Commission chairperson Buta Singh said: “We will summon all the people who have performed, written and cleared the lyrics as well as the producer and director.”
