When Sourav Ganguly took off his shirt and waved it from the Lord’s balcony after India’s memorable NatWest Series victory in 2002, it became one of the defining moments in Indian cricket. filmmaker Abhinay Deo sees it as a statement of confidence from a team that was no longer willing to play second fiddle While the celebration is remembered for its sheer audacity. That spirit of defiance forms the heart of his upcoming film Doosra, which connects the Indian cricketer’s rebellious streak with the story of Tara, a young woman growing up in a conservative household in Rajasthan who begins questioning the restrictions imposed on her.
Abhinay points to his 2011 dark comedy Delhi Belly as an example of how smoothly the certification process has worked for him. This is not a film for a 13-year-old to come and watch on their own, though it is a very important film for a 13-year-old to see as well,” he explains. At around 78 minutes, Doosra is considerably shorter than most mainstream theatrical releases. “In a 78-minute film that is an intense drama, I think it can very easily go without a break. There are some films where the first half itself is longer than 78 minutes these days,” he says. “Imagine, you’re at the 38-minute mark and you’re taking a break.
Because it felt the film was not necessarily meant for younger viewers to watch on their own, for Doosra, he says, the team was comfortable with an A certificate. Because of films, “I understand that they need to sell popcorn, but at the end of the day, they exist. Starring Plabita Borthakur as Tara, the film uses a landmark moment in cricket to explore a much more personal struggle for freedom. Beyond its central theme, the film has also received an A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), raising questions about how filmmakers navigate the certification process while trying to preserve their stories. The board also raised concerns about a reference to the Babri Masjid episode and sought changes to the scene. However, director Abhinay Deo was reluctant to alter footage he considered important to the story and chose to accept an A certificate instead of making the requested cuts. Interestingly, both films were adult-rated, and both were passed without cuts. My meeting with the board lasted seven or eight minutes, maybe ten. Abhinay is quick to clarify that his experience may not reflect what other filmmakers have gone through. However, he believes its themes could still resonate with them. “We were very clear that we were fine with an adult certification. He adds that he has no issue with the film eventually reaching audiences on a streaming platform. Abhinay believes the film’s length and intense storytelling make it well suited to a continuous screening without an interval. the director admits that the final decision is not entirely in their hands While the team had hoped to avoid a break. including selling refreshments during intervals, he believes the film’s viewing experience deserves equal consideration While he understands that exhibitors have commercial considerations. They need to be a little more sensitive towards the films as well,” he explains. The film does have a natural break point around its midpoint, marked by a jump in the timeline, which could work as an interval if required. Still, he would prefer audiences to watch the drama unfold without interruption.
Abhinay, however, says his experience with the board has been largely hassle-free, unlike the challenges other filmmakers have spoken about. CBFC flagged a few scenes in Doosra, including a brief shot of a nude photograph in an adult magazine that Tara’s father catches her looking at as a child, according to several reports. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he says, “My experience with anything that could be considered objectionable goes back to Delhi Belly, my first movie, and now Doosra, my latest film. They asked what rating I was expecting, and I said a U/A rating would be great, but if that meant cuts, I would rather go without them. Abhinay says he had hoped to achieve a similar uninterrupted screening with Doosra after his experience with Delhi Belly. You haven’t even had the popcorn bucket you bought before the film started,” he says with a laugh.
