Kathmandu, March 12
The Central Film Censorship Board has granted permission for the release of the movie Rajagunj after censoring scenes featuring remarks made by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Director Deepak Rauniyar told Onlinekhabar that the film has been awarded a universal certificate, allowing viewers of all age groups to watch it. While the board has removed certain scenes and dialogues, the film’s runtime remains unchanged, he added.
The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. “We have complied with the censor board’s directives while ensuring that viewers’ right to watch the film remains intact,” Rauniyar stated. “However, the removed scenes will not be replaced with alternative visuals or dialogues. Instead, blank spaces or beeps will be used.”
Rauniyar emphasised that the film would not be re-edited despite concerns over freedom of expression. “We will present the film exactly as censored by the board without replacing the removed parts. We stand firm on our commitment to freedom of expression, and we believe the audience will understand our stance,” he said.
He also urged viewers to raise their voices in support of free expression.
Nine years ago, the censorship board had refused to approve the film for screening due to objections over scenes and dialogues featuring remarks made by Oli during his tenure as UML chairperson. However, Rajagunj has now been cleared for release and is set to hit theaters nationwide from March 15.
