Filmmaker and actor Tigmanshu Dhulia has recalled a censorship controversy involving Dilip Kumar’s 1961 classic Ganga Jamuna, claiming the censor board objected to a dialogue because the actor was Muslim, writes NDTV.
Speaking at The Wire’s State of Media and Film Industry event, Tigmanshu discussed censorship in Indian cinema and recalled how the issue eventually reached then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
According to Tigmanshu, the controversy centred on a scene in which Dilip Kumar’s character says “Hey Ram” while dying. The actor, born Muhammad Yusuf Khan, played Ganga, a Hindu character, in the film.
“The censor board stopped the film and gave a very strange reason. They said, ‘How can you say Hey Ram? You are a Muslim,’” Tigmanshu said.
He claimed the filmmakers argued that the character was Hindu and could therefore say “Hey Ram”. However, according to the filmmaker, the censor board initially refused to accept the explanation.
Tigmanshu further claimed that the matter was eventually brought to Jawaharlal Nehru, who was India’s prime minister at the time.
According to Tigmanshu, Nehru watched Ganga Jamuna and found nothing objectionable in the film.
He also recalled concerns that followed the film’s clearance. Tigmanshu said there was a fear that allowing Ganga Jamuna to pass while other films remained held up by the censor board could create an impression that Dilip Kumar had received special treatment because of an alleged connection with Nehru.
He claimed the other films awaiting clearance were subsequently cleared as well.
Tigmanshu will next appear in Ghamasan, starring Arshad Warsi and Pratik Gandhi. The film is scheduled to premiere on ZEE5 on 11 September.
