MUMBAI: Bollywood’s first major release in 2013, ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ featuring Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma can now be enjoyed by all, irrespective of what age group they fall in. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have granted the film a ‘U/A’ certificate.

“I’ve always wanted my films to reach out to a wider audience. Finally with ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’, not restricted by the ‘A’ rating, I’ll be able to do so. I’d like to thank the CBFC for giving this rating as it’s a bright and happy film,” stated filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj who tries to go as authentic as possible in all his films, has always struggled with the Censor Board in the past. His previous offerings ‘Maqbool’, ‘Omkara’, ‘Kaminey’, ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’ – all recieved an ‘A’ certificate, except ‘Makdee’ which was a children’s film.

Even ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ had this obstruction earlier. The CBFC Regional Officer, Vinayak Azad had originally passed an ‘A’ Certificate for the film for its use of some crude words. A very upset Bhardwaj had then appealed to the Revising Committee.

The bone of contention back then had been the use of the word ‘Paincho Paincho’, throughout the film by the character ‘Mandola’ played by Pankaj Kapur. “Paincho” is a close rhyme with an abusive Hindi word.

Bhardwaj had appealed, “It isn’t an abusive word. Besides, it’s meant to be hilarious, not offensive. Do not kill the flavor of the region for one word that sounds like a ‘gaali’ as it is not an adult film. The phrase is not offending at all… in fact, it is amusing. ‘Paincho Paincho’ is actually quite musical. There is an extremely popular family restaurant in Bandra called ‘Papa Pancho’. Society has accepted that, then why not in the film? Society has to come out of this hypocrisy.”

Looks like the CBFC has finally agreed with him! ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’, presented by Fox Star Studios  releases on January 11, 2013.