By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Aug 8 (IANS): Hollywood films were allowed more kisses even for films certified for all ages, but now in a bid to stop allegations of discrepancies in the certification of Indian and international films, the censor board has decided to treat kissing scenes in Hollywood and Bollywood with the same yardstick.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has clamped down on a deep-mouth French kiss in the Lasse Hallstrom's "The 100 Foot Journey", which features Om Puri and Helen Mirrren as two warring restaurateurs who come together to cook up a romantic dish.
No, don't get your hopes up high. The torrid kiss that the CBFC objected to doesn't feature Puri and Mirren. It's Manish Dayal, (seen as Om Puri's onscreen son Hassan Kadam), and his French girlfriend played by Charlotte Le Bon, who share a torrid tongue-to-tongue that sent the CBFC into a tizzy.
“The CBFC gave Reliance Entertainment, the co-producers of '100 Foot Journey' the choice of keeping the French kiss with a 'UA' certificate. But Reliance has opted to take a 'U' certificate without the French kiss, as it allows a much wider spectrum of audience to watch the film,” said a source.
In a related move, the CBFC has decided to not follow different guidelines regarding kissing in our films.
“The earlier logic that westerners are more comfortable with indulging in and watch smooching does not apply any more. When we allowed kissing to remain in Hollywood films, Indian producers would point accusing fingers at them asking why there couldn't be kissing in their scenes.
“So from now on if you want a serious kiss - and we are not talking about just a peck, which the CBFC allows anyway, then be prepared for a UA certification.”