Vikramaditya Motwane On Historical Film Controversies: Self-Censorship Is Inevitable

NEW DELHI (ANI)- Acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane recently shared his insights on the challenges of creating historical films in India, where controversy and self-censorship often come into play and the impact of these challenges on the creative process.

Motwane’s remarks come in the wake of the controversy surrounding the period drama “Chhaava,” which was forced to delete a dance sequence featuring Vicky Kaushal’s character, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, performing a lezim dance after politicians raised objections. This incident highlights the delicate balance between artistic expression and cultural sensitivities in India.

“Of course, it is challenging. Because then you have to think of self-censorship before you do it because you don’t know who you’re going to offend at some point in time. So from a purely creative perspective, yes, it does affect the process of creativity,” he said.

When asked about the trend of re-releasing films in theatres, Motwane expressed his desire to bring back his 2018 film “Bhavesh Joshi Superhero” to the big screen. He believes the film’s themes of corruption and social justice are more relevant now than ever.

In recent years, re-releasing films has become a trend, with audiences enjoying revisiting their favorite movies. Motwane said, “The superhero film targets corruption and that sort of stuff.” ‘Bhavesh Joshi Superhero,’ released in 2018, stars Harshvardhan Kapoor in the lead role, along with Priyanshu Painyuli, Ashish Verma, and Nishikant Kamat in supporting roles.

Motwane’s filmography is characterized by its diversity, ranging from coming-of-age dramas like “Udaan” to experimental projects like “CTRL,” which explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and social media. For Motwane, the key to his creative process is excitement and a willingness to take risks.

From “Udaan,” “Lootera,” “CTRL,” and “Sacred Games” to his recent work, “Black Warrant,” Motwane does not adhere to a specific genre, as his only criterion behind any project is “excitement.” “If I am excited about something, then I can spend months or years on that project. It is essential that if I am giving my time and putting my energy into any story, it should excite me as a filmmaker or as a creator. I’m always happy to make as many different kinds of films as possible,” said Motwane.

The director ventured into the digital space with his film “CTRL,” starring Ananya Panday. He shared his perspective on artificial intelligence and social media, saying, “AI, if used as a tool to help creative people or assist the medical industry in making life easier, is beneficial. My concern is when AI is used to replace jobs, spread misinformation, or for other harmful purposes. The decision to adopt AI is often in the hands of those with financial power, and they use it to make more money. That is where the problem lies.”

He also spoke about his debut project, “Udaan,” which will be part of the Red Lorry Film Festival, commemorating 15 years since its 2010 release. The film stars Rajat Barmecha, Ronit Roy, and Ram Kapoor.

“It’s the first film, first child, first baby, and the fact that it still has an interest level 15 years after release is great. I’m excited to show it to an audience who has never seen it before or to those who appreciate and love it,” he said.

The Red Lorry Film Festival, India’s premier international film festival curated by BookMyShow, will return for its second edition from March 21 to 23, 2025, in Mumbai as “Red Lorry Film Festival: Take 2.” For the first time, it will also be held in Hyderabad under the new chapter “Red Lorry Film Festival: Parallel Verse.”