KFCB Restricts Gay-Themed Indian Movie, Warns Against Distribution

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has today restricted the gay-themed Indian movie Badhaai Do, prohibiting it from being exhibited, broadcasted, or distributed in the country.

The move follows a review by KFCB’s internal and external examiners based on the existing classifiable elements and standard guidelines.

Badhaai Do is a 147-minute drama-comedy about a twisted marriage between a man and a woman for the purpose of hiding their respective homosexualities.

“Upon examination of the film, we noted a clear intent by the producers’ to promote same-sex marriage which is evident through the gay and lesbian characters in the film who explicitly seek to normalize their feelings for each other and ultimately convince their families to embrace and empathize with them,” KFCB’s Ag. Chief Executive, Mr. Christopher Wambua told journalists on Monday 14^th.

He argued that the choice of characters equally seeks to abuse establishments such as the disciplined forces and academia, professions that epitomize sobriety and virtue, and that society holds in high regard.

While the film is acceptable in its country of origin, India, in Kenya, it propagates a worldview that is in dissonance with Kenya’s constitution, culture, values, and norms and could easily expose vulnerable consumers to perversion.

“The film is unacceptable and an affront to Kenya’s culture and identity as it appears to legalize, advocate, normalize or glorify the act that contravenes Kenya’s laws,” a statement from KFCB stated.

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Badhaai Do, according to KFCB overtly disregards Kenya’s laws, constitution, and sensibilities as a people.

According to Article 45 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), marriage as a union between persons of the opposite sex. Similarly, Sections 162, 163, and 165 of the Penal Code criminalize homosexual behavior.

“Homosexuality remains an anathema and claims such as ‘Love is Love’, ‘I am okay’ with ‘my son being a gay’, ‘gay people can adopt’ among others, as portrayed in the film fly in the face of our laws and values,” Mr. Wambua said.

He added that Badhaai Do tries to directly influence the viewer into believing that homosexuality is a normal way of life.

“This is clearly evident by the use of symbolic colors that are associated with LGBTQ+ as displayed towards the end of the film,” he stated.

Mr. Wambua reminded content creators to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Films and Stage Plays Act and other laws.

“It is worth noting that, in the past one month, the Board has flagged down audio-visual content on hate speech and reported the same to relevant Government and private sector agencies for appropriate action,” he said.

The board said that while adults and people who subscribe to the LGBTQ+ may have a right to choose what they consume within the parameters of the law, children and other vulnerable segments of society are at the risk of being corrupted.

KFCB called upon parents, guardians, and caregivers to remain vigilant and monitor the content their children watch on TV and other broadcast channels, and guide them appropriately.