NEW DELHI: Even as film bodies are yet to react on the issue, several members of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have reacted strongly to the diktat by chairman Pahlaj Nihalani banning use of certain English and Hindi words in films.

While some members tweeted that they had not been consulted and another termed him a moron, Nihalani told Indiantelevision.com that he was very much within the Certification Guidelines in issuing the directive.

In a note sent to producers associations and some prominent individual producers apart from his own CBFC members, Nihalani has banned the use of 11 English words, and 10 Hindi words, which are almost literal translations of these words that, according to him were obscene.

In addition, he said films should avoid scenes of violence against women, glorification of violence, double-meaning words, and the use of the name Bombay instead of Mumbai.

In a series of tweets, CBFC member and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit said, “I as a Filmmaker & #CBFC board member do not endorse the list issued by the Chairperson on words not to be used in films. I was not consulted. Does the #ChairpersonCBFC endorse other bad words, which are not in this list can be used in the films? #Antifilmmakers. The list of words 'not to be used in films' issued by the Chairperson is against the freedom & creative liberty of a filmmaker. If I am portraying the character of Dawood in my film, he will use the language as per his character & not what a saint would use. Does the #ChairpersonCBFC endorse other bad words which are not in this list can be used in the films?”

Reacting to the tweets, Nihalani said he stood by his directive and wondered why such obscenities had been permitted so far. He said this made it difficult not only for family audiences to see such films, but added the burden of ‘bleeping’ out these words when the films were shown on television.