No French kiss, we are Indian: CBFC objects to kissing scene in The 100 Foot Journey

While earlier, Hollywood films were allowed more kisses and smooches even for films certified for all ages, now in a bid to stop allegations of discrepancy in the certification of Indian and international films, the censor board has decided to treat kissing scenes in Indian and non-Indian films in the same line of moral vision.

The Censor 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 Mirren 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 who plays Om's 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.

Says a source, "The CBFC gave Reliance Big Entertainment, the co-producers of 100 Foot Journey the choice of keeping the French kiss with a 'UA' (parental guidance) certificate. But Reliance has opted to take a 'U' certificate without the French kiss, as it (the U certification) allows a much wider spectrum of audience to watch the film."

In a related move the CBFC has decided to not follow different guidelines regarding kissing in our films.

Says a source close to the censor board, "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 no, 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."