Centre, CBFC asked to respond to film “#MeToo” producer’s plea

New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to file response to a plea by the producer of the Bollywood movie "#MeToo" challenging the censor board order asking him to change the name of the film.

The plea, filed by producer Sajid Iqbal Qureshi, sought that the CBFC's November 12, 2018 order be set aside.

Qureshi's counsel Shilpi Jain told Justice Vibhu Bakhru he CBFC has not given proper hearing to film producer and ordered modification of the title of the movie "#MeToo".

The court has listed that matter for further hearing on May 3.

The CBFC has also ordered that the public exhibition of the film be restricted to adults.

Jain said "the portrayal of the female character, a victim of kidnapping with the objective of committing a sexual crime, is a sensitive issue and any tampering with the scenes, meddling with the script can cripple the narrative".

"Leaving the craft of the film sloppy and ineffective, the filmmaker has attempted to throw light on the socio-cultural milieu, revoke perverse mindsets and address the collective consciousness, the gender ethos, confining patriarchal structures, which need to be brought down," read the plea.

The advocate said the filmmaker's intent was to convey what goes on in the minds of men who abduct a woman with the intention of rape.

"None of the directions contained in the order, whether with regard to change of the title of the movie or by way of insertion of disclaimer or deletions/excisions/modifications fall within the ambit of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 or the guidelines and violate the Constitution of India and are hence illegal and deserve to be quashed/set aside," the plea said.