Did CBFC demand title change for 'A Nice Indian Boy' due to gay subject matter? Netizens slam decision, call it 'a joke'

In a move that shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore, India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly demanded a title change from the makers of Roshan Sethi's gay romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy, in order to get it released in Indian theatres. The film will now be released with the modified title A Nice Boy, on October 17.

Headlined by Mindhunter star Jonathan Groff and Karani Soni, the film revolves around an Indian-American physician (Soni) who takes his partner, a photographer (Groff), to meet his parents. With premieres followed by acclaim on the international festival circuit, the film was scripted by Eric Randall, based on Madhuri Shekar’s play A Nice Indian Boy.

Needless to say, some netizens, serious cineastes, and industry insiders have slammed CBFC for the same. Screenwriter Apurva Asrani, who once encountered problems with his film Aligarh, in which Manoj Bajpayee played a gay professor, tweeted that it reminded him of the time when the mayor of Aligarh wanted the film banned "because she thought a gay protagonist made her city look bad."

"Seems like the CBFC now fears that calling a gay man 'A Nice Indian Boy' makes the whole country gay," Asrani further quipped.

Other netizens have called this move "hilarious," while another said, "Whatever stuff CBFC is smoking is too dangerous. Title has some context there but they don't give a f***." Another said, "Oh, CBFC, you never fail to amuse me. You're such a vestigial organisation."