While the CBFC is busy censoring references to the caste system that Jyotiba Phule fought so hard to eradicate, it seems like a film slipped through their radar- Jaat.
The Sunny Deol starrer has been rated U/A, despite its brutal depictions of murder, violence, and sexual assault.
According to general CBFC guidelines, a film can only be granted a U/A certificate if it does not contain content that is unsuitable for a younger audience.
As per reports, some abusive words were replaced- ‘Bharat’ became ‘Humaara’, and ‘Central’ was changed to ‘Local’ in the final edit.
In addition, scenes depicting molestation, gory violence, and the use of an e-cigarette were also altered.
Other scenes such as throat-slitting (in two different sequences), a blood-covered head on an ice block, a statue of Jesus Christ in a church, mishandling of a baby, thumb-cutting, decapitation, Indian currency under people’s feet, and the national emblem on a character’s forehead during a fight, were either edited out or replaced with CGI.
Even though the film underwent 22 cuts, audiences believe the final version is still not suitable for a U/A rating.
If films like Phule and Santhosh are scrutinized by the CBFC for depicting caste realities on the grounds that they might “influence” public sentiment, why is a film like Jaat allowed to glorify violence and killing?
Doesn’t that have the potential to affect public behaviour too?
While Jaat may be a typical masala entertainer for Deol fans, the CBFC should have evaluated and rated it more responsibly.
