INDIA CENSORED

COURTESY:TEHELKA

2006
THE DA VINCI CODE
Both, the film and the book, banned in Nagaland. Film banned in Punjab

THE EPIC OF SHIVAJI
by James W. Laine
Banned by the Maharashtra government in January. Claimed to have contained “insulting writings” about Shivaji and his parents

2005
MR JINNAH
a play by Arvind Gaur
Banned by the police, though it was not spelt out officially

2004
SHIVAJI: HINDU KING IN ISLAMIC INDIA
another Laine book, banned

2003
DWIKHANDITO
by Taslima Nasreen
Banned by the West Bengal government on the ground that it hurt Muslim sentiments

2000
WATER
by Deepa Mehta
Right-wing vandals attacked the cast and
crew of the film

1998
MI NATHURAM GODSE BOLTOY
The then BJP-led Maharashtra government banned the play

1996
NUDE SARASWATI
by MF Husain

FIRE
The film’s posters were torn, the film taken out from theatres

1992
CITY OF JOY
The unit of the film starring Patrick Swayze, Shabana Azmi attacked by CPM supporters. Passed off as genuine anger of Kolkatans for depicting the city in a poor light

1988-1989
THE SATANIC VERSES
by Salman Rushdie
India becomes the first country to ban it. In 1989, riots in Srinagar and Bombay saw 13 deaths, one in Srinagar, 12 in Bombay

1988
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
by Martin Scorsese Film remains banned in India because of fears that it will incite riots

1978
BEDTIME STORY
by Kiran Nagarkar
Play banned; was not staged till 17 years later 1974

SAKHARAM BINDER
Vijay Tendulkar’s play banned after initial performances

1973
GHASHIRAM KOTWAL
Tendulkar’s play banned initially for its alleged anti-Brahmin stance Late 1940s and early 1950s

Many of Saadat Hasan Manto’s stories banned by the government for being ‘sex-oriented’

And finally,
Morarji Desai allegedly wanted the temples at Konark and Khajuraho covered with bed-sheets because they were “against Indian culture”