Sharmila Tagore defends 'Aaja Nach le' decision before NCSC

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Censor Board Chairperson Sharmila Tagore today told the National Commission for Schdeduled Castes(NCSC) that the Madhuri Dixit-starrer Aaja Nach Le was cleared as the Board believed that the word 'Mochi' did not refer to a Scheduled Caste but to a profession.

The film was banned in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab for its lyric...''mohalhe mein kaisi maara maar hai, bole mochi bhi khud ko sonar hai...''(There were fights in the area to see me, and even the shoe makers would call themselves goldsmiths.) Ms Tagore appeared before the Commission along with Joint secretary Films, Ministry of Information and it broadcasting and a lawyer representative of the producer and the director of the film, an official told UNI.

He said while accepting the Censor Board Chairperson's explanation, the Commission, however, advised her to be more careful in future, and file a written affidavit explaining the decision.

Ms Tagore will have to appear before the Commission once again said.

The offence, said to have been committed by the ''derogatory' reference to the caste comes under the Civil Rights Protection Act of 1955.

The Censor Board Chairperson had earlier apologised to the those who were offended over the lyries of the song.

UNI