The much-anticipated dark drama, Bandar, is set to release tomorrow, June 5. The film has garnered significant attention, not only for its compelling subject matter and the first-time collaboration between Bobby Deol and director Anurag Kashyap but also for its smart use of the song ‘Come On Baby’. Bollywood Hungama brings an exclusive look into the censor process and the extensive cuts mandated for the film.
CBFC Grants 'A' Certificate with No Visual Cuts
During its review, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) passed Bandar with an 'A' certificate, indicating it is restricted to adult audiences. The good news for the filmmakers and audiences alike is that despite the potentially sensitive theme of the film, the CBFC's Examining Committee (EC) did not request any visual cuts. This means the visual integrity of the film remains untouched.
Extensive Dialogue Modifications for Abusive Language
While visual content remained intact, the CBFC made numerous changes to the film's dialogues, primarily targeting abusive language. The modifications were extensive, reflecting the board's strict stance on profanity.
• Key Replacement: The heavily abusive phrase 'b c*' was notably replaced with 'banjo'**. This particular change stands out among the many adjustments.
• Substituted Cuss Words: Several other extreme cuss words were replaced with a wide array of milder terms, including:
* 'saale'
* 'c*e'
* 'haramkhor'
* 'g***u'
* 'pagal'
* 'fr'
* 'bloody'
* 'hooking up'
* 'moron'
* 'g***d'
* 'ca'
* 'wise guy'
* 'f*g'
* 'fr'
* 'j***t ke baal'
* 'saamaan'
* 'ling'
* 'be'
* 'j***t'
* 'moron'
* 'willy'
* 'weenie'
* 'clown'
• Other Substitutions: Additional words were replaced with 'aicha gavat', 'goddamit', 'baby', 'nasha', 'ladki', 'kamine', and 'hum sab', though it's not specified if these original words were abuses.
Deletions and Mutes
Beyond replacements, some dialogues faced outright deletion or muting:
• The word 'b*d' was asked to be deleted.
• An abusive word in the third act was muted.
• Three additional abusive words were also muted from the film.
• The dialogue 'kitna bhi sindoor' underwent modification.
Story Inspiration and Celebrity Consent
The filmmakers submitted crucial documentary evidence to the CBFC, confirming that the story of Bandar is inspired by true events. Furthermore, consent letters from various celebrities were provided, affirming their permission for their names to be used within the film.
Film Length and Star Cast
Following these comprehensive changes, Bandar was granted its censor certificate on May 30. The official length of the film, as noted on the certificate, is 130.27 minutes, translating to 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 27 seconds. The ensemble cast includes Bobby Deol, Sapna Pabbi, Sanya Malhotra, Saba Azad, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Jitendra Joshi, among others, promising a powerful cinematic experience.
