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MediaFx
2 hours ago

đŸŽ„ Director Ali Abbasi Slams India’s Censorship Over Trump Biopic: “We Need a Vaccine for It”

TL;DR: Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice, a biopic on Donald Trump, has run into censorship issues in India. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanded cuts, including removal of nudity and reduction of sensitive scenes. Abbasi, already frustrated by censorship in other countries, hit back, calling the phenomenon an epidemic in need of a vaccine.




🎬 The Story Behind ‘The Apprentice’

The film explores Trump’s early years as a businessman, focusing on his relationship with notorious lawyer Roy Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong). The biographical drama aims to highlight Trump’s formative years, tackling themes of greed, power, and manipulation. It stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and faced challenges securing distribution globally due to its politically charged content and controversial subject matter.

🚹 CBFC’s Cuts and Controversy

India’s CBFC has demanded multiple cuts, including the removal of nudity and a 75% reduction of a scene portraying non-consensual sex between Trump and his ex-wife Ivana Trump. Additionally, they have asked for the removal of the term “Negro” and mandated disclaimers for scenes involving drinking and smoking.

Ali Abbasi criticized the board’s demands, saying the cuts strip the film of its core message. The CBFC also requested evidence for certain scenes, to which Abbasi and his team responded that the content was based on thorough research and fact-checking. Abbasi remarked, “I escaped censorship in Iran, only to face corporate censorship in the U.S. and state censorship in India” (TheWrap, Wikipedia).

đŸ—Żïž Ali Abbasi’s Outburst: “We Need a Vaccine for Censorship!”

Abbasi’s frustration is not new. Even during the film’s premiere at Cannes 2024, he hinted at how censorship across countries stifles creativity. The filmmaker said that the film isn’t merely a portrayal of Trump but a reflection of systemic corruption and power dynamics that shaped him. Abbasi declared he would rather halt the release in India than compromise on artistic integrity through excessive censorship.

💡 MediaFx Opinion: Creativity Must Be Protected!

While cultural sensitivity is important, censorship laws in India often go overboard, limiting the creative scope of filmmakers. Abbasi’s frustrations reflect a broader struggle faced by artists. Creative content needs space to thrive without being neutered by arbitrary regulations. It’s high time India found a balance between respecting cultural norms and allowing thought-provoking art to reach audiences in its original form.

What do you think? Should films adapt to censorship rules, or should the rules themselves change? Share your views below! 👇

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