HYDERABAD: Whether 'Businessman' that is being touted as the 'biggest box office hit' in the 81-year-old history of the Telugu film industry' is the subject matter of debate, but surely Mahesh Babu-starrer is breaking rules.
The movie has violated provisions of the Cinematograph Act and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been taken for a ride. This pertains to the title of the movie. The CBFC cleared the movie with the title 'The Businessman' but the filmmakers have dropped 'The' on their own. The publicity of the film is being done without the definite article.
In fact, the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce, too, through a letter on January 1, 2011 had cleared the registration of the film title as 'The Businessman'. The title was also renewed up to April 22, 2012.
However, the definite article is missing from the posters and other publicity material of the movie which was released on January 13. Curiously, a set of publicity posters submitted to the CBFC for certification carry the full title.
According to sources, such violation - publicizing a movie with change in title - is an offence and punishable up to three years of imprisonment and also with a fine. Clearly, R R Movie Makers, the producers of the film, showed no respect for rules and regulations as laid down by the Cinematograph Act.
The movie which is running for the successful fifth week has also courted controversy for other reasons. Another glaring omission was 'A' certification. A film which is given 'A' certification is meant for only adults. This prompted some activists to lodge a complaint with the police.
Taking objection to the lyric 'Bad boys...' in the film, VHP activists also lodged a complaint with the police. But the police failed to take these violations to the notice of CBFC. The length of cuts the film was subjected to by censors shows to what depths film director Puri Jagannadh stooped to in projecting obscenity, including liberal doses of 'f...' word.
Strange as it seemed, film hero Mahesh Babu justifies the existence of the mafia in settling problems. In the film, the hero even goes to the extent of suggesting that those who do not have a purpose in life would do better to commit suicide rather than be a burden on the earth.
