The Bombay High Court has directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a certificate to the film Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi without insisting on cuts or modifications, clearing the way for its theatrical release. The decision came after the bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale personally viewed the film over the weekend, following repeated delays and non-compliance by the CBFC in processing its certification.
The filmmakers had approached the court after the CBFC initially refused certification, raising multiple objections on the grounds that the film was inspired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The CBFC had earlier demanded 29 cuts, which its revision committee later reduced to 21, but the filmmakers, represented by advocates Ravi Kadam, Satatya Anand, and Nikhil Aradhe, declined to make these alterations and instead sought judicial intervention.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Ram Apte, appearing for the CBFC, argued that the film contained obscenities and could potentially defame the Chief Minister. However, when questioned by the bench, Apte admitted he had not watched the movie himself. The judges categorically stated that after carefully reviewing the film, they found neither obscenity nor defamatory content. They further noted that they had paused and examined each of the flagged portions and saw no basis for the CBFC’s objections.
The court also remarked that the movie is inspired by the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, a publication widely available in national and international libraries. When asked, Apte admitted he had not read the book. The bench emphasised that since the film draws from publicly available material, it cannot be barred from release simply because it portrays a public figure. The judges also reminded the CBFC that prior case law makes it clear that films cannot be denied certification on the grounds that they are based on real individuals or real-life events.
To address concerns about potential misrepresentation, the court suggested the inclusion of a stronger disclaimer clarifying that the film is a creative interpretation inspired by fictionalised characters. The petitioners presented a revised disclaimer, which the bench accepted and directed to be incorporated into the film.
Rejecting the CBFC’s repeated reliance on claims of defamation, the court observed that the movie actually depicts Yogi Adityanath in a positive light, rather than attempting to malign him. The judges also compared its content to material already available in the public domain and concluded that the reasons cited by the CBFC for denying certification had no merit.
Ultimately, the bench ordered the CBFC to grant certification without delay, allowing the producers, Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd., to move forward with planning a new release date. The film, which was originally scheduled to premiere on August 1, will now be released once the CBFC issues its certificate in compliance with the High Court’s directive.
