Maatr risks CBFC ban due to abuses and graphic scenes? Makers claim film still under scrutiny

A week prior to its release, there were reports doing the rounds that Ashtar Syed’s revenge drama Maatr may not see a theatrical release as it has not been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to graphic scenes involving crimes against women. [caption id=“attachment_3384192” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Raveena Tandon in Maatr.[/caption] The Quint reports that the CBFC officials could not even sit through the screening of Maatr this past Saturday because of the gruesome and graphic violence against women depicted in the film. They also found an incessant rush of abuses as a sign of profanity in the film. They claimed that the abuses were so large in number that they could not even be beeped out properly. The same report states that the actual content of the film was starkly different from the screenplay submitted by the makers to CBFC. They found the rape scene in the film to be more titillating or voyeuristic in nature. While they stated that Maatr is hard-hitting and well-intended, the film often goes overboard and might invite the ire of the body devoted to prevention of violation against women, claimed CBFC. However, The Indian Express reports that the producer of the film, Anjum Rizvi rubbished the rumours of the CBFC denying certification to the film. Rizvi clarified that the film is still under examination of the CBFC and that the body will watch it once again on Monday, 17 April, and come to a decision in a couple of days. While the film has not been banned yet, there is a dark cloud cast over its timely release. It will only be allowed to release if the CBFC decides to clear the film. Even if it gets an ‘A’ certificate, the makers are expecting a lot of cuts in the narrative. Maatr stars Raveena Tandon and is expected to release on 21 April.