Showtime for UP babus

Filmmaker Prakash Jha’s latest offering sure has stirred up a hornets’ nest.
After the protests, and anticipation of protests, the latest is that the Entertainment Tax department of UP wants to watch “Aarakshan” and ensure there’s nothing in it to excite the audiences before it can be released in theatres across the state on August 12. If things go according to plan, Jha will organise a preview on August 9.
The ET department’s concerns are not too hard to decipher.According to SK Dwivedi, the Entertainment Tax commissioner, the idea is to ascertain whether the film does contain anything that could lead to a widespread public agitation. “We have requested the production house in writing that the filmmaker arrange a preview of “Aarakshan” before its release. The film will be viewed by members of our department including the Entertainment Tax secretary, members from other government departments, etc,” he says, elaborating, “The media has been reporting for quite some time that the film may have something that can cause widespread agitation, and therefore we are well within our rights to be asking for a preview. Section 62 of the Cinematograph Act (1965) clearly authorises the UP government to ask for a preview of any film if there is apprehension about a breach of peace.”
When reminded that the film has already been deemed fit for public viewing by the Censor Board, Dwivedi replies, “But the Censor Board does not view the film from a law and order perspective. Their job is to only ascertain the contents of the film and award certification. Law and order is our domain and we have to be careful that nothing disturbs the peace of the land.”
According to the commissioner, “Mr Jha has promised that a show will be arranged, possibly on August 9.”
Considering that the Hindi heartland is a major focus area for filmmaker, it is no surprise that Jha has agreed to the demands of the UP government. He confirms the news and says, “The Entertainment Tax commissioner has communicated to us in writing that they want to see the film before the release. This is the only government body to have sent us such a request in writing. Under the UP state government laws, they are authorised to cancel a censor certificate, or cancel screenings of films if they don’t deem it fit for public viewing. In deference to the laws of the state government of UP, we are willing to show the film to the UP Entertainment Tax Commissioner. However, we can only do this post the hearing of the case in Bombay High Court on August 9.”
The Bombay High court has defered it’s hearing of a PIL filed by two lawyers against “Aarakshan”, to August 9. The PIL states that the release of the film could law and order problems. The preview has been fixed for the evening of August 9, post the Bombay High Court hearing.