Although the censor board has shown an unprecedented liberality by passing an inherently violent story like Paan Singh Tomar with a 'UA' certification (suitable to be seen with parental guidance), it wasn't easy getting a censorial clearance for the film.
Says a source close to the project, "Though the film is set in the Indian heartland and the characters speak a rough raw earthy bhasha, they don't use expletives as such. There is only one character played by veteran actor Rajendra Gupta, whose colourful language had the censor board running for the scissors and gunning for the gaalis."
Dhulia apparently had to fight tooth and nail to prove that cleaning-out the character's language would be tantamount to emasculating him. Tigmanshu had to wage a long battle, and still he had to finally expunge the expletives.
"There was a specially heated argument over one sequence towards the end where Irrfan's character is speaking to Gupta," informs the source.
When contacted Dhulia said, "Yes, the censor board did have a problem with Rajendra Guptaji's dialogues. He plays Irrfan Khan's coach in the film. And he uses behench*d in his language liberally and frequently. While I did agree to do away with most of the objectionable expletives, there's a scene towards the end when Irrfan visits his old coach who asks, 'Why have you come to see me?' Irrfan says he's come to hear his gaali. Now, to not have a gaali here would be impossible. The whole sequence is based on the gaali."
Dhulia apparently argued his case. But the censor board was adamant, arguing that a 'UA' certification meant children would hear a member of the educational community abusing in a film.
Finally, Dhulia had to settle for a compromise.
Says the director, "I agreed to let Gupta Saab say 'behen' and then instead of the second part of the cuss word I'd put something like, 'di takki'"
Dhulia says he doesn't mind making the alterations. "I had to make no cuts in my earlier film Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster in spite of its sexual content because it got a straight 'A' certificate. In spite of the film's violent heart, the censor board agreed to give Paan Singh Tomar 'UA' certificate. That widens my audience spectrum. To phir kuch adjustments to karni hi padegi."
Dhulia also had to blur/ delete some scenes showing the characters smoking.
"But that's okay. I'm just happy that the censor board is looking at a film with its given specific theme and milieu and not making arbitrary cuts," says the director.
Watch 'Paan Singh Tomar' Promo
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