Hijab burning scene censored from Rasoolof's film 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig', uproar over CBFC's order

Recently, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) instructed some edits to Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoolof's political thriller 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig'. This includes adding standard disclaimers and subtitles related to the use of smoking. However, a particular demand has sparked controversy. The CBFC has removed the hijab burning scenes, which symbolize resistance in Iran's 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement.

An insider close to the Indian distribution team was disappointed with the CBFC's decision. He told a media house, 'We are disappointed with the order to delete some key scenes. Those moments are central to the story, symbolizing the spirit of rebellion that the film seeks to highlight. Given the current climate, the CBFC was cautious about the possible reaction but cutting these scenes would feel like a compromise on artistic integrity.'

Shot undercover in Iran, 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' has received international awards. It has won in Cannes and other major film festivals. Producer Jean-Christophe Simon spoke candidly about the challenges faced by the production team. He revealed, 'The shoot felt like a thriller. There were moments when crew members had to pretend that they were working on a completely different film to avoid the authorities.'

While some are seeing the CBFC's decision as a practical move, others are worried that the move will dilute the impact of the film. A member of the team associated with the post-production termed it ironic. He says, 'The story is that of a judge operating a control system, and the film is facing censorship on all counts. Other changes include standard smoking disclaimers throughout the film, the removal of some words from the English subtitles, and alterations of about two minutes of scenes. The film's release date is not yet known.