The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), popularly known as the censor board, works in mysterious ways. Just when the film fraternity tires of accusing the CBFC of being too prudish, the board pulls a rabbit out of its hat and surprises everyone. This time, the rabbit is the 'U/A' certificate issued by the CBFC to the theatrical trailer of Aditya Chopra's film Befikre.
Aditya Chopra's return to direction has already taken everyone by surprise with its lead pair, Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor, steaming up the screen with their hot kisses. Even as fans grew a little hot under the collar with this public display of affection, the CBFC saw no problem with it and passed the trailer. The same board had raised objections to the mere visibility of a bra in the Katrina Kaif-starrer Baar Baar Dekho.
Speaking to a national daily, Pahlaj Nihalani, CBFC chairman, said, "When we are strict with on-screen intimacy, people have a problem; when we let scenes of intimacy remain intact, people have a problem. The images in Befikre are not about the kisses alone. It’s about a whole lot of things, about love. The trailer shows kissing as a manifestation of love; it’s not there for titillation."
Nihalani said the kisses had been shot aesthetically enough to demand clear passage through the certification board. "All the kisses are in long shot. It’s only in close-ups that kissing on screen tends to look overblown." Adding praise for the director, Nihalani said, "Aditya Chopra’s aesthetic sense makes the kissing look natural, and not vulgar at all."
Well, confused as we are, the Befikre team will certainly be happy to get away with this. Now that the trailer has been passed, you might as well watch it.