Sharwanand’s upcoming film Bhogi, which is slated for release next month, could face an unexpected hurdle at the censor stage, with the lyrics of a recently released song potentially drawing scrutiny.
Written by Chandrabose, the song “EgiliVaranga…” has been appreciated for its lyrical richness. However, beyond its literary merit, the content has sparked discussion over whether certain references could become a stumbling block during the film’s certification process.
The song reportedly mentions specific castes such as Medhara, Kammari, Chaakali, Maadhiga and Golla, along with their traditional occupations and the practice of members of these communities taking offerings to the village “patel” and treating him like a god.
While such references may be rooted in historical social realities, their portrayal on screen could invite closer examination in the current censorship climate.
The concern is whether references to caste identities, hereditary occupations and historical social hierarchies could attract objections, particularly if the censor board believes they risk reinforcing caste divisions or require additional context. However, whether any such objection will actually arise remains to be seen.
Recent discussions surrounding censor scrutiny of politically sensitive subjects, including the issues reportedly faced by Comrade Kalyan, have added to apprehension within the film industry.
According to industry sources, the censor controversy surrounding Comrade Kalyan reportedly stemmed from objections to references to Naxalism, including the use of terms such as “Naxals”, references to their uniforms and depictions associated with the movement.
The reported reasoning centred on concerns that portraying such ideologies and their historical presence on screen could potentially influence present-day youngsters or revive interest in a movement considered to belong to an earlier era.
Given that nearly 70 per cent of Comrade Kalyan was said to revolve around this backdrop, the proposed cuts reportedly threatened to substantially alter the film’s original narrative.
The makers are said to have approached the Review Committee after the initial objections, but further cuts were allegedly suggested.
Eventually, following reported intervention at higher levels, the film received a U/A certificate without major cuts, with the makers replacing the word “Naxals” with “Annalu”.
The episode has raised questions within industry circles about how such guidelines are interpreted and whether similar scrutiny could extend to films dealing with other historically sensitive subjects.
According to informal discussions in film-industry circles, the Bhogi team may need to approach the certification process carefully, as the film reportedly deals with a tyrannical caste system from a bygone era.
If objections emerge at the last minute, they could potentially complicate the film’s release plans.
For now, the possibility of censor trouble remains speculative. Whether Bhogi clears certification smoothly or faces an unexpected challenge will become clearer once the formal process begins.