When contacted by Etimes, and asked about the bribe by some alleged censor board members for early screening and certification Vishal confirmed and said that he has put out on social media the entire details of the transaction that happened between his team and the alleged CBFC members.
Vishal said, “We were a bit late for the censor process for Mumbai so when my team approached them was told that we will have to pay them the amount to get screening and certification of the film. It came as a shock to me as we have faced such situation in the South and if we are late they consider it and clear the film as they know how much is at stake for the producer.”
Vishal adds, “A bribe was demanded of about Rs 6.5 lakhs. I don’t believe in this recording culture, but honestly when I got this news from my manager saying that she was asking 6 and a half lakhs, I said, It was a lady? Yeah, yeah some, Menaka.”
When asked why didn’t you complain to the board immediately? Vishal said, “No point. The board was involved in it. Why would I complain to the board which is involved in it? Or the minister?”
He added, “The lady said that it goes all the way up the ladder. And we even have an example of an earlier film which was applied, 15 days back had paid 4 lakhs.”
Vishal had no choice but to cough up the amount asked as his film was only 15 days away from the release. He said, “I was shocked. I told my manager to do it but make online transaction and no cash payment must be made to them.”
He further adds, “We paid Rs 3 lakhs before the screening of the film and the lady told us another Rs 3 lakhs before the first half is over And I have to show the UTI number for certification.”
Vishal confirmed that the screening and certification came on time but added, “Honestly, paying that was not to get my certificate alone, but also to bring out the truth that is happening.”
So what does Vishal have to say to the CBFC Chief Prasoon Joshi? Vishal said, “You got to buck up, sir. You got to buck up and please find out when you have mediators talking so casually and conveniently asking for lakhs for getting a certificate. I am not showing a porn film or an adult film. I am showing a film which has already been certified by South in all four languages. So, I don’t know where they have the guts to even ask so openly 6 and a half lakhs and 4 lakhs for one film which has applied for a certificate 15 days back. And there seems to be a price tag for every film, I guess. And my manager also asked very clearly, like, who does it go to? And she says it goes all the way to the CEO.”
Vishal also feels that there is every chance that the CBFC may reprimand him but adds ,”They may stop my screening. I also know bribing a government official is not correct but I had to do it to show what is happening in the CBFC.”
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