Manoj Bajpayee Discusses Creative Freedom and Film Titles

Actor Manoj Bajpayee says that creative liberty and personal dignity are being sacrificed due to controversies surrounding film titles and the censor board. His recent film Gajab Raat faced heavy backlash over its original title, Ghuskhor Pandit, even though people protested before seeing a single frame of the movie. Bajpayee noted that the Central Board of Film Certification now treats titles and release dates as temporary because people are easily offended today.

The Last Man in Tower

Bajpayee also spoke about his film The Last Man in Tower, which received positive reviews but opened with a limited number of shows. Rana Daggubati's Spirit Media decided to start with fewer screens and increase them gradually based on audience response. He explained that many families still avoid theatres after the pandemic and prefer waiting for films to arrive on OTT platforms. This made him confident that an OTT platform suited the movie well because the story is built around the emotional journey of buying a first home.

Craft and Character

Discussing his preparation for complex roles, Bajpayee described his character Masterji in The Last Man in Tower as a grey, selfish man stuck in his own nostalgia and in conflict with his neighbours. He shared that getting into such characters involves using various learned devices until a meditative state takes over. After nearly three decades in the industry, his passion for movies remains strong because he enjoys switching between varied genres to avoid boredom.

Context

Film censorship and title controversies often spark intense public debates in India, involving various cultural groups and regulatory bodies. The Central Board of Film Certification evaluates films before public release to ensure content adheres to certification guidelines. Discussions around creative freedom frequently highlight the balance between artistic expression and public sentiment.