Dhasal (15 February 1949 – 15 January 2014) was a recipient of Padma Shri (1999) and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sahitya Akademi (2004).
Mumbai: Chal Halla Bol, a film inspired by the late Namdeo Dhasal, an eminent Dalit poet and author, ideologue and the founder of Dalit Panthers’ movement, has been stuck because of objections taken by the Censor Board.
Dhasal (15 February 1949 – 15 January 2014) was a recipient of Padma Shri (1999) and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sahitya Akademi (2004).
Dhasal played a leading role in the Yuvak Kranti Dal and Dalit Panthers, which was inspired by the Black Panthers Movement of the United States.
Maverick, firebrand and unorthodox, Dhasal was considered a rebel in the Marathi literary landscape and his famous works include Golpitha.
Filmmaker-writer Mahesh Bansode has made the film with people’s contribution.
“The film Chal Halla Bol has been submitted or nominated in 252 film festivals in India and abroad. So far it has won 32 awards,” Bansode said.
The rejection by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has shocked the litterateurs, writers, poets, thinkers and activists of Maharashtra.
“Today’s youth needs to be told the story about Dhasal and his contributions,” Bansode, the writer, director and producer, told DH on Saturday, while expressing shock over questions from some jury members - “Who is Namdeo Dhasal?”.
Bansode has submitted the film in June 2024.
“When we submitted the film, the regional officers appointed to review it seemed that the jury members had no knowledge of the Dalit Panther movement or Namdeo Dhasal’s contributions,” he said.
However, the Censor Board wants to give A certificate with cuts,” he said, adding that the suggested cuts include some words in Dhasal’s poetry and scenes where there are temples.
Maharashtra’s Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant and Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar are expected to take up the issue.
“I discussed with the filmmaker…but will have more discussions take place…will see what objections have been taken…Me and Shelar will discuss with the Censor Board,” said Samant.
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) too is annoyed with the CBFC. “The government appointed nonsense people on the Censor Board, which is why they dared to ask, 'Who is Namdev Dhasal?' about Padma Shri Namdev Dhasal, who raised the sword of rebellion against Dalit atrocities through ‘Golpitha’,” said NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar.