CBFC Censors Dialogues on Lal Bahadur Shastri and Mahatma Phule in Varun Dhawan’s Baby John, Alters Three Violent Scenes

Censor Board Insights

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) granted Baby John a U/A certificate. However, the Examining Committee (EC) requested several modifications before approval. Notably, the duration of the opening disclaimer was extended, and the filmmakers were instructed to include a statement clarifying that the film’s title, Baby John, has no relation to any political figure or entity. Additionally, a voiceover and text were incorporated to confirm that the performances of child artists adhered to existing guidelines, along with a consent letter submitted to the CBFC.

Dialogue and Visual Changes

The EC mandated the censorship of two specific dialogues. One line that mentioned ‘Phule,’ referring to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, was muted. In another instance, the name Lal Bahadur Shastri was replaced with an unspecified term in the dialogue.The CBFC also requested four visual modifications. A scene involving a character kicking a ‘kalash’ (pot) was altered, while visuals depicting characters being set on fire were reduced by 50%. Additionally, the scene where a character taps cigarette buds on another’s face was modified, and a close-up of a gunshot was also edited.Moreover, the CBFC required the filmmakers to provide an AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) certificate and factual sources for the statistical data on rape mentioned in the film.

Final Approval and Release Date

After implementing these changes, Baby John received CBFC approval on December 16. The film’s runtime, as stated on the censor certificate, is 164.01 minutes, which translates to 2 hours, 44 minutes, and 1 second.Featuring a star-studded cast including Varun Dhawan, Jackie Shroff, Keerthy Suresh, and Wamiqa Gabbi, Baby John is set to hit theaters on December 25.