DARLING.. yeh hai India !!!

The govt received a proposal from a filmaker to make a film on Mahabharata....
and this is what they replied........

Government of India
Ministry of Human Resources Development
Department of Culture
Films Division
No. B1452/234/2003 Dt. 23.6.07

To:
Shri. B.R.Chopra,
Film Director,
Mumbai

Ref: Film story submitted by you, regarding financing of
films by Government of India, Your letter dt. 2.12.90


The undersigned is directed to refer the above letter and
state that the Government has examined your proposal for
financing a film called ''Mahabharat'. The Very High
Level Committee constituted for this purpose has been in
consultation with the Human Rights Commission, National
Commission for Women and Labour Commission, inaddition to
various Ministries and State Governments and have formed
definitive opinions about the script. Their observations
are as below:

1. In the script submitted by you it is shown that there
were two sets of cousins, namely, the Kauravas, numbering
one hundred, and the Pandavas, numbering five. The
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has pointed out
that these numbers are high, well above the norm
prescribed for families by them. It is brought to your
kind attention that when the Government is spending huge
amounts for promoting family planning, this will send
wrong signals to the public. Therefore, it is recommended
that there may be only three Kauravas and one Pandava.

2. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has raised an
issue whether it is suitable to depict kings and emperors
in this democratic age. Therefore, it is suggested that
the Kauravas may be depicted as Honourable Members of
Parliament (Lok Sabha) and the Pandava may be depicted as
Honourable Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). The ending
of the film shows the victory of the said Pandavas over
the said Kauravas. The ending may be suitably modified so
that neither of the Honourable Members of Parliament are
shown as being inferior to the other.

3. The Ministry of Science and Technology has observed
that the manner of birth of Kauravas is suggestive of
human cloning, a technology banned in India. This may be
changed to normal birth.

4. The National Commission for Women has objected that
the father of Pandavas, one Sri Pandu, is depicted as
bigamous, and also there is only one wife for the
Pandavas in common. Thereore suitable changes may be made
in the said script so that the said Sri Pandu is not
depicted as bigamous. However, with the reduction in
number of Pandavas as suggested above, the issue of
polyandry can be addressed without further trouble.

5. The Commission for the Physically Challenged has
observed that the portrayal of the visually impaired
character 'Dhritharastra' is derogatory. Therefore the
said character may not be shown as visually impaired.

6. The Department of Women and Child Development have
highlighted that the public disrobing of one female
character called 'Draupadi' is objectionable and
derogatory to women in general. Further the Home Ministry
anticipates that depiction of such scenes may create law
and order problem and at the same time invite strong
protests from the different women forums. Such scenes may
also invite penal action under SITA (Suppression of
Immoral Traffic Act), therefore they may be avoided and
deleted from the film.

7. It is felt that showing the Pandava and the Kauravas
as gamblers will be anti-social and counter productive as
it might encourage gambling. Therefore, the said Pandavas
and Kauravas may be shown to have engaged in horse
racing. (Hon. Supreme Court has held horse racing not to
be gambling)

8. The Pandavas are shown as working in the King Virat's
employment without receiving any salary. According to the
Human Rights Commission, this amounts to bonded labour
and may attract provisions of The Bonded Labour System
(Abolition) Act, 1976. This may be corrected at once.

9. In the ensuing war, one character by name Sri
Abhimanyu has been shown as fighting. The National Labour
Commission has observed that, war being a hazardous
industry, and the said character being 16 years old, this
depiction will be construed as a case of child labour.
Also there is no record of his being paid any
compensation. This may also be deemed to be violatory of
the provisions of The Child Labour (Prohibition and
Regulation) Act, 1986 and Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Such
references in the film may be removed.

10. The character 'Sri Krishna' has been depicted as
wearing a peacock feather. The peacock is our National
Bird and wearing dresses made from peacock feather is an
offence under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. This
may not be depicted

11. Smt Maneka Gandhi has raised very serious objection
for using any elephants or horses in war scenes, since
there is every scope for > mistreatment and injury to the
said animals. The provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals Act, 1890 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(Amendment) Act, 1960 would be applicable in the instant
case. Suitable changes may be made in the script to
address the objections raised.

12. In pursuance of the Memorandum of Ministry of Finance
regarding austerity measures, it is informed that in the
battle field sequences, only ten soldiers may be allowed
for each side. Also, all the characters may be shown to
have obtained a valid licence under the Arms Act, 1959 as
well as the Indian Arms Act, 1878. You are therefore
requested to modify the script along the lines indicated
above and resubmit it to the undersigned at the earliest.

Sd/- Under Secretary