CBFC member Vivek Agnihotri speaks against OMG 2’s A certificate, says decision comes from ‘social, religious pressure’

Mumbai(India), 09/08/23: Vivek Agnihotri, a member of the Central Board of Film Certification, has complained about the numerous edits made to Akshay Kumar’s OMG 2. The Kashmir Files director stated that this was “not justified” and that, despite being a member of the CBFC, he was “totally against it.”

In an interview with India.com, Vivek stated that he has not yet seen the film and was not a member of the revising committee that provided the list of revisions to the filmmakers. Akshay was reportedly playing Lord Shiva in the film, but his role was modified to ‘messenger of God’ following CBFC guidelines, and when asked if this was justified,

Vivek stated, “No, it is not justified. I don’t agree with that. First of all, even though I am a part of CBFC but I am totally against it.” Vivek implied that CBFC was pressurised into suggesting the modifications and said, “CBFC shouldn’t be pressurised to do anything. Whatever is happening, it’s happening because of social and religious pressures.”

He added, “Everybody has understood that CBFC is a vulnerable body, you put pressure on it, and they will make these changes. I don’t understand why a film should get so many cuts – 27 cuts. Who are you to decide that?”

Vivek then questioned the concept of film censorship and stated that an organisation like the CBFC should not exist. He went on to say that he supported free speech and would even tolerate hate speech.

Elaborating on the point he said, “Even though I am a part of CBFC but if you ask me, I honestly believe there shouldn’t be any CBFC. I am against any kind of boycotts and bans on the movies. I believe in free speech. I, in fact, believe in absolute free speech, to the extent, that I think even hate speech should be allowed.”

Vivek questioned whether these adjustments called people’s intelligence into question and asked how society would grow more accepting if the CBFC supervised content in this manner. “People are intelligent,” he said.

The CBFC requested that the OMG 2 crew delete condom advertisements, frontal nudity pictures of Naga Sadhus, and sights of what are being described as “sculptures of unnatural sex,” among other things. The film received a ‘A’ rating after 27 changes.