FILM CENSOR BOARD STACKED WITH BJP FAVORITES
(The News Minute| January 19, 2015)
The Central Government on Monday appointed a new chairperson for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). While producer Pahlaj Nihalani was appointed as the censor board chief, nine other members were appointed with immediate effect following the change of guard at the CFBC led by Leela Samson. (Leela Samson was the chair of CFBC who resigned in protest along with 12 other members two weeks ago, citing the BJP government’s interference in the workings of the CFBC. – Eds.)
Pahlaj Nihalani is a producer of movies like Shola Aur Shabnam, Andaz, Aankhen and Talaash: The Hunt Begins. Brother-in-law of Shatrughan Sinha, Pahlaj Nihalani also composed and directed the song ‘Har Ghar Modi’ in the run up to the May 2014 elections.
Mihir Bhuta is a well known Gujarati writer. A February 2014 Times Of India article describes Mihir Bhuta as someone ‘contributing remarkably in Gujarati and Hindi theatre, Hindi television industry and Hindi film industry. Bhuta has been a noted writer with translating many of William Shakespeare’s famous plays. He is the pen force behind Mahabharat tv serial on Star Plus.’ Mihir Bhuta, FirstPostreported was helping NRI film maker Mitesh Patel in making a movie about Narendra Modi’s journey from a common man to the chief minister of Gujarat.
Chandra Prakash Dwivedi: A film director and script writer who played the titled role of Chanakya is the television serial by the same name. He has also directed a television serial based on the Upanishad’s and written the dialouges for the Doordhasan series on Chatrapathi Shivaji. Jeevitha : A Telugu actress and currently the BJP spokesperson of Telangana. In November 2014, Jeevitha Rajashekar was sentenced to two years imprisonment in a cheque bounce case by a local court. After getting bail, the actor said the case against her was false. This was in fact the third such caseagainst her husband Rajashekar and her. During the May 2014 elections Jeevitha and her husband had unveiled a song for Narendra Modi.
S.Ve Shekher : Is a famous Tamil playwright and actor. Though he was an AIADMK MLA in 2006, he officially joined the BJP in 2013.
Vani Tripathi Tikoo : She has acted in movies like Chalte Chalte and Dushman and is a theatre artist. She is also the national secretary of the BJP.
George Baker: Popular actor who has acted in many Assamese and Bengali movies. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014. He contested from the Howrah constituency, but lost.
Ashoke Pandit : Is a film-maker and social activist. His documentary ‘And the World Remained Silent’ portraying the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was well received.
Ramesh Patange : A Dalit leader and editor of Marati Weekly ‘Vivek’, Patange is an RSS ideologue. He is a founder member of the Samajik Samarasata Munch which is a social equality forum of the RSS.
Dr. Syed Abdul Bari: The Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat, he was appointed to the position on 25th August, 2014.
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