Censor board planning to ban the use of ‘Bombay’ word

It started with the bleeping out of ‘Bombay’ in Milhir Joshi’s track ‘Sorry’, however it seems to be the start of a campaign from the Indian censor board to impose an umbrella ban on the use of the word ‘Bombay’ in all film titles, dialogue and lyrics.

According to sources, producer ‘Ashok Kaul’ was advised by the board to change his film title from ‘Bombay Central’ to ‘Mumbai Central’ in order for the film to be granted a certificate.

When questioned personnel within The Censor Board suggested ‘They were merely following guidelines set by the state government in it’s 1996 Gazette notification to restore the original name of the city’. The Board are encouraging all film producers to abstain from using ‘Bombay’ in films songs and dialogues.

Apparently the advisory will be sent to the Film and Television Producers Guild, Indian Film and Television Producer Council, Western India Film Producers Association and Indian Motion Picture Producers Association.

By Rozina Altaf Henderson