Manoj Bajpayee on Gajab Raat row: ‘If creative liberty needs to be sacrificed, then so be it’

The Indian ExpressIndependentProgressiveNov 5

Indian actor Manoj Bajpayee discussed his recent film 'Gajab Raat' and the controversy surrounding its initial title, 'Ghuskhor Pandit,' in an interview with SCREEN magazine. Bajpayee stated that the renaming of the film, mandated by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), came at the expense of creative freedom and personal dignity. He expressed a pragmatic acceptance of the situation, noting that if creative liberty must be sacrificed, he would accept it. The interview also covered his role in 'The Last Man in Tower,' where he explained that the film targets family audiences who prefer streaming platforms over theatrical releases due to post-pandemic viewing habits. Bajpayee described his character, Masterji, as morally grey and complex, emphasizing the difficulty of portraying such nuanced figures.

Bias read (Progressive): The headline and body frame the CBFC's intervention as a violation of 'creative liberty' and 'personal dignity,' adopting a critical stance toward state censorship without presenting counterarguments from regulatory authorities.

Deccan HeraldIndependentProgressiveNov 3

Director Honey Trehan has publicly criticized the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for issuing new administrative guidelines. The directive requires filmmakers to submit their movies in their entirety for certification before release. Trehan described these measures as acts of cowardice and dictatorship, expressing strong disapproval of the regulatory changes. This controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Indian filmmakers and censorship authorities regarding creative freedom and procedural requirements.

Bias read (Progressive): The headline uses highly emotive, anti-authoritarian language ('dictatorship') attributed to the filmmaker, framing the state regulator negatively without balancing views from the CBFC or legal experts.