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Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal (KDM)
Community Groups Verify Objectionable Scenes are Not in the Movie
Community Groups to Meet All Stakeholders for a Lasting Solution Soon

The priest in a song and dance sequence with a pop group

Those protesting against misrepresentation of the clergy in the film, ’Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal’ (KDM), viewed the movie on the first day to assure themselves that the offensive scenes were not being shown. The representatives of - The CSF, Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC), Catholic Residents Organization for Social Services (CROSS), Maharashtra Christian Youth Forum (MCYF) and Catholics for Preservation of Faith (CPF), viewed KDM at Paradise Theatre, Mahim in Mumbai.

Bishop Agnelo Gracias, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Mumbai said, he was "happy that the objectionable scenes have been deleted. Every religion should be treated with the respect it deserves. I hope the Censor Board will maintain caution in future while granting Certification to the movies". Joseph Dias, the CSF general secretary pointed out that such movies where Christians & the faith is being grossly & vulgarly portrayed, "trivializes the faith and stereotypes the community as drunkards and criminals, besides painting the clergy in bad light. Our women are shown as those of cheap virtue and loose morals. This image is then used by fundamentalists, who persecute and target us". He mentioned some of the scenes that were not present in the film as below:

1. The priest in a song and dance sequence with a pop group.
2. The priest with a garland of lottery tickets, mouthing objectionable dialogues.
3. Catholic goons against the church backdrop with currency notes on their bodies.
4. The water-sprinkler that was misused and seen with the hero; and certain dialogues.

The priest with a garland of lottery tickets, mouthing objectionable dialogues

The groups would be vigilant that no interpolation takes place and called upon the community to intimate them of the same. The community groups are also to meet all stakeholders soon at the Indian Motion Picture Producers (IMPPA) and Film Makers Combine (FMC) office, after which a future course of action would be decided. This includes a lasting solution to prevent re-occurrence, demand for the resignation of the Censor Board chairperson and the transfer of the CEO for being ineffective.

Agnelo Fernandes, MCYF president thanked the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Ms Ambika Soni, for her timely intervention. Joe Sodder of AOCC said the community groups had decided to "unitedly fight against misrepresentation of all religions" in films. Lawrence D’souza of CROSS said "Ours is religiously a sensitive country & we do not need to create provocative situations here ". Arthur D’mello of CPF volunteered to take up cudgels at the High Court level, should the need arise.

Catholic goons against the church backdrop with currency notes on their bodies

In a letter received The CSF general secretary, Joseph Dias, the Censor Board CEO, Ms. Pankaja Thakur, while assuring that care had been taken, also forwarded the report of the examining officer of KDM, which points to other alterations made in the original version presented to the Board. To illustrate with an example, the priest was to mouth a dialogue to the effect - "Padri kya pyar nahi kar sakta? Uske seene may bhi tho dil hai", which was cut and replaced.

There were also certain scenes and dialogues, which we found were not in good taste; but given the overall opinion of the groups and cinematic license enjoyed, we decided to draw the attention of all those concerned, for future caution. Some of these are -

1. Dialogues like - ’ Jesus ko to lakdi ke cross pe chadaya tha, Church ko sone ka cross kyu chahiye
2. A scene where the priest wears a bishop’s attire complete with scull cap and sash
3. The sacrament of Confession and the confessional, which is shown in a trivial manner
4. The Christian undertaker, who is mocked and ridiculed - which is tolerable.

The water-sprinkler was misused and seen with the hero

The CSF, as it has always done, will take all these and related issues to its logical end.