Gujarat Elections Over,  Padmavati Not To Be Certified before January

For  the Padmavati team which was hoping to get a  censor clearance  after the Gujarat elections there is  disappointing news.

 Sources at the censor board say there are no plans of viewing Padmavati this  year.

Says an  important source from the CBFC, “There’s no way Padmavati can be certified  before January. December is  almost over. We have not scheduled  the film. There are at least 40 feature films in different languages  waiting in the queue before Padmavati.”

The  source  further informs that Padmavati has “unnecessarily complicated its case”  with an ambiguous disclaimer in its application  for certification. “We now have to appoint a panel  of  historians to view the film because according to the disclaimer the  film is partially based on  historical facts.The content will now have to be scrutinized for authenticity.”

 The  CBFC source says all of this is a time-consuming  exercise. “It’s year-end. Some board members are  on holiday. Some have  called in sick. Forget about appointing  a panel of historians we  don’t even have a normal Examining Committee to view all the films.”

This CBFC source says Padmavati is a long way  from release. “Even by conservative estimates the  film won’t be certified before the  second week of January.And I don’t think they can release the film before April-March. That is, provided the  CBFC clears  the film without any objection.’