DEAR PRASOON, WE HAVE REALLY HIGH HOPES—AN OPEN LETTER

Dear Prasoon Joshi,

As a Bollywood fanatic, I've been a huge fan of your writing. Your lyrics have inspired and empowered an entire generation. The words 'apni to pathshala masti ki pathshala' from Rang De Basanti truly showed who we were. It was our voice. Eleven years on, it is still relevant as ever. You even taught us how to love. The words 'Ho slow motion angreza hun kyun time gawaaye, seedhe baahon mei bharle, sarsari kyun badhay' from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag brings out just what we all, as a generation feel about having no filters in life. Carrying forward the idea of holding nothing works, I take this platform to speak on behalf of millions of cinephiles and avid lovers of Bollywood, we are super stoked about your latest role as the Chief of the Central Board of Film Certification.

We are half way through 2017 and we are so done with shying away and looking down on intercourse and intimate scenes in films. A film is a reflection of the society and not a portrayal of an ideal society that shall cease to exist. We have had enough moral policing. We're so done with the CBFC deciding what and how much we watch on the screen. Since 2015, lame and appalling cuts have been made in films which defy all levels of logic. Had the ex-chief not been sacked, we were heading back towards the age of silent cinema, the only way out left to avoid offending someone or the other. But, there is always light at the end of a dark tunnel and this news has been just that for us.

We do not want you to crumble under pressure because we're sure a lot of people are waiting to pounce on you. It won't be easy but I am sure just like your writing, you're going to let the world get a taste of freedom. While the former chief claims to have taken a firm stand against vulgarity and pornography, we are sure you'd know where one must draw a line and how 'women-oriented' films shouldn't be taken as a blow to the male ego. You've been a part of the world and we're pretty sure you know that the film fraternity is based on creativity and vivid imagination and a film is an effort of hundreds of people who come together giving life to the imagery and hence, it's important artists and creativity gets their due. We'd also want CBFC to play its definitive role and not tell us what is wrong and what is right.

We hope this tenure brings about a much-needed wave of change in the industry! We wish you all the very best!