Kolkata > The upcoming Bengali film 'Uronchondi', from Prosenjit Chatterjee's production, may have to be screened without subtitles as the makers claim that the CBFC Kolkata office has only issued certification for the film without any mention of subtitles.
The film's associate producer Srijoni Roy told PTI that the certificate issued by the CBFC Kolkata office only mentioned 'Uronchondi (Bengali) (Colour) (2-D)' though they had submitted the subtitled version of Uronchandi for online certification on July 11/12.
"In the given situation we are being forced to release the film without subtitles on August 3 which will deprive us financially as a large segment of non-Bengali audience will not be able to watch the film in theatres and the film cannot be distributed digitally," Roy said.
'Uronchondhi', revolving around the journey of three women in search of freedom, has been directed by Abhisek Saha.
Chatterjee has shot off a letter to the CBFC and the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) over the issue, Roy said.
Elaborating on his points, the associate producer said, after the makers found the words 'with subtitles' missing from the censor certificate, they had approached the CBFC Kolkata.
"We were told to give it in writing in stamp paper that we wanted the words 'with subtitles' written in the Censor card. We had done accordingly and got acknowledgement receipt of the written letter. But finally when we got the certificate, 'with subtitles' words were missing," she said.
When the local Censor office was approached by the producers once again, "We were asked by CBFC Kolkata to get a letter from UFO, QUBE and Scrabble (digital movie distribution networks) on a revised certificate.
"But they (digital movie distribution networks) informed us that every other regional Censor board in India and the CBFC Mumbai issue certificate card bearing the words 'with subtitle' and the ball is in the court of CBFC Kolkata." she said.
The EIMPA has also shot off a letter to the CBFC Kolkata on the issue yesterday, EIMPA sources said.
Prosenjit Chatterjee, who was not happy with the developments, said he was hoping for a positive outcome before the film's release.
"I have mailed to CBFC urging them to issue a new certificate for Uronchondi for referring it as a Bengali film with subtitles. If that is not done before August 3, we can't run the subtitled version in halls and plexes and that will deprive the increasing number of our non-Bengali audience from watching the film," Chatterjee said.
Roy said the Censor Board has said the new certification card can be issued on August 7, "But our film will be released before that."
CBFC Regional Officer East Partha Ghosh could not be contacted.
As per Rule 22 (3) of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, only the final version of a film is to be shown to the examining committee for certification purposes.
The rule stipulated that all the applicants must submit an undertaking along with the application clearly stating either that subtitles are included or subsequently no subtitles will be added once the film is certified by the CBFC.
