‘Not For Me Or You To Decide’: Javed Akhtar Comments On Besharam Rang Row!

There has been a lot of ruckus on social media regarding the song Besharam Rang from upcoming film Pathaan. Deepika Padukone wore a saffron colored bikini in the track, which created a lot of controversy among a section of audience who claim that the colour is sacred in Hinduism. Some others have expressed objections over the title of the film which refers to a particular ethnic group. People reacted fiercely on this matter. After much uproar, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has asked the makers to make slight changes in the song.

Many known names from the industry have put forward their views on the Besaharm Rang row. And now lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar too has opined something about the same. Akhtar has said that the filmmakers have the authority to decide what will be the final cut and what will not be in the film certification body. It needs to be ‘trusted’.

He stated, ‘It is not for you and me to decide what is right and what is wrong. We have an agency. People from the government and a cross-section of society watch the film and decide what will pass and what will not.’ Javed mentioned that we should rely on the agency’s cuts and whatever they have passed and certified.

Talking about the recently constituted ‘Dharma Censor Board’, Javed quoted, ‘There is one censor board in MP, then there is one censor board of the centre. What is the problem? We have four-five important ‘dharmas’ and they should have their censors. Maybe then moulvis (under Islam) will start watching films.’

According to reports, CBFC has made several cuts in the track. It includes some of Deepika’s bold close shots and her bikini shots. Recently, members of Bajrang Dal had also protested against this film in a mall in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. They said that if the song Besharam Rang was not removed from the film, they would not allow the movie to release in the state.

For the unversed, Pathaan is going to hit the theaters on 25 January, 2023. Apart from Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, it also stars John Abraham.