TL;DR:Ā Ali Abbasiās The Apprentice, a biopic on Donald Trump, has run into censorship issues in India. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)Ā demanded cuts, including removal of nudityĀ 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.
š¬ The Story Behind āThe Apprenticeā
The film explores Trumpās early years as a businessman, focusing on his relationship with notorious lawyer Roy CohnĀ (played by Jeremy Strong). The biographical dramaĀ aims to highlight Trumpās formative years, tackling themes of greed, power, and manipulation. It stars Sebastian StanĀ as Trump and faced challenges securing distribution globally due to its politically charged content and controversial subject matter.
šØ CBFCās Cuts and Controversy
Indiaās CBFC has demanded multiple cuts, including the removal of nudityĀ and a 75% reductionĀ 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 āNegroāĀ and mandated disclaimers for scenes involving drinking and smoking.
Ali Abbasi criticized the boardās 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, āI escaped censorship in Iran, only to face corporate censorship in the U.S. and state censorship in Indiaā (TheWrap, Wikipedia).
šÆļø Ali Abbasiās Outburst: āWe Need a Vaccine for Censorship!ā
Abbasiās frustration is not new. Even during the filmās premiere at Cannes 2024, he hinted at how censorship across countries stifles creativity. The filmmaker said that the film isnāt merely a portrayal of Trump but a reflection of systemic corruptionĀ and power dynamicsĀ that shaped him. Abbasi declared he would rather halt the release in IndiaĀ than compromise on artistic integrity through excessive censorship.
š” MediaFx Opinion: Creativity Must Be Protected!
While cultural sensitivity is important, censorship laws in IndiaĀ often go overboard, limiting the creative scope of filmmakers. Abbasiās frustrations reflect a broader struggle faced by artists. Creative content needs space to thrive without being neutered by arbitrary regulations. Itās high time India found a balance between respecting cultural normsĀ and allowing thought-provoking artĀ 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! š
