TITLE- Studying Censorship in the Works of Anand Patwardhan

SUBJECT- INTRODUCTION TO FILM THEORY

ADITYA TYAGI

Abstract- In my end-term paper, I’m planning to do an inter-textual analysis of selected works of Anand
Patwardhan with Legal proceedings faced by them, virtually all of his films faced censorship and got his
relief from judiciary after long court battle. I will use bare acts and laws governing media and censorship
and incorporate with the judgment and case law to study his works.

The significance lies in the mode of enquiry which is taking place. In my paper I’m looking his films under
the perspective of law. As it would be a new way of looking into things because in a society where the
Judiciary is the upmost institution which uphold and protect the law in, though from the legislature and
executive they imposed certain hindrances in stalling the screening of his works but judiciary offered
him some remedy. So this legal approach will help understand the idea behind censoring content
especially for law and governance. Even the judgments which favored Patwardhan’s side may open up a
debate on ever evolving Article 19 , Freedom of Speech and Expression and the attitude of the
legislature and executive towards a private citizen. If we look into his film, In memory of his friend(1990)
, it was asked for cuts by the CFBC on the grounds of ‘law and governance’ but it was passed by the
Revising Committee , then It was rejected by Doordarshan for telecasting and reason was cited as
’Unsuitable for Telecast’, but later after going through legal proceeding it was telecasted on Prime Time.
As we can see a pattern of tyrannical opposition is coming from the government, which questions the
intent of them especially when it’s getting recognition at various platforms.

In methodology I would be doing textual analysis of the visual work with other written text like legal
documents and literature related with textual analysis. I have stated the pattern of In memory of his
friend , this similar attitude was constituent in many of his films like In the name of God. Father, son and
Holy War. War and Peace . I hope my paper will do the required enquiry into his works.