After Leela Samson and fellow member Ira Bhaskar, eminent filmmaker Shaji N Karun has resigned as member of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) pledging solidarity with them and expressing “gross dissatisfaction” at the functioning of the body.
Karun, who mailed his resignation to Samson last evening, said he was quitting not just over the issue of clearance to the controversial film “Messenger of God” but mainly because of the “constitutional and organisational” failure of the CBFC for some time.
“I emailed my resignation to the Chairperson. It is quite natural that when the chairperson steps down, the team which worked together under her also resigns. My information is that as many as 14 CBFC members have already put in their resignation,” Karun told PTI.
So the people resigned from censor board in support to Leela Samson includes ace director Shaji N Karun…to be noted…Hmm #MSGTheFilm
— DHANIL.K (@myblackboard) January 17, 2015
He is the latest member to resign amid the controversy surrounding the overnight clearance to “Messenger of God” featuring Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Karun said the board members had been thinking about resignation for some time as the agency was virtually “dysfunctional” for the last nine months.
“We have not met at least once in the last nine months. Whenever we asked for holding meetings, the top brass used to say there was no funds for that. Not just that, our tenure had already ended in last March. The government then informed us we would continue till we get a letter from the top. We decided to continue only to help the government run the Board,” he said.
The award-winning filmmaker said the board members were not happy about the approach of not just the present NDA Government but also about the approach of the previous Congress-led UPA regime towards the Board. He said “political appointments” in the panel by the changing governments diluted the core objectives of the board.
“Many panel members, recommended by political parties, did not even have a remote connection with cinema. The CBFC had to collectively bear the shame of the malpractices and misdeeds of some of those on the board,” he said.
Ira Bhaskar told the news agency ANI that the process in which the board should function was not happening. She also added that it is not about the film MSG, the resignations came after Chairperson’s resignation.
When the Chairperson of a board resigns,how can the board exist,now new ppl will be appointed : Ira Bhaskar,former CBFC member — ANI (@ANI_news) January 17, 2015
We are professionals,whichever Govt comes to power we work with it,continued working on extension even after term was over : Ira Bhaskar
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 17, 2015
Some people however expressed their disagreement with the resignation and questioned it on Twitter:
Disagree with Leela Samson. However bad the film MSG may be, I am happy it got cleared. Freedom of expression is most important. @Ra_THORe
— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) January 17, 2015
Leela Samson resigned because MSG is released. Lol, it is like Dhoni retired from Test Cricket because Rohit Sharma was not allowed to bowl.
— Overrated Sala (@bhak_sala) January 17, 2015
What was Leela Samson’s problem with MSG besides the fact that the hero had swung to BJP from mother ship ?
— Greatbong (@greatbong) January 17, 2015