Indian film all about sex education but teens not allowed to watch it

Lead child actor, 16, also cannot view it; but movie sparks wider discussion on the subject

- Debarshi Dasgupta

It was Aarush Varma's big screen debut. The 16year-old made grand plans to watch the film's premiere at a theatre, soaking in the public adulation. His family envisaged inviting his classmates and friends for a special screening of the movie.

But all these plans came to naught.

The film, OMG 2, a Hindi drama that flags the importance of sex education in schools, was given an adult certification by India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), making its viewing permissible only to those above 18.

This left Aarush - the lead child actor of the film - in a quandary because he could not legally watch the film he had acted in.

Several other children who also acted in the movie were in a similar situation.

On Aug 11, the day OMG 2 was released, Aarush had to wait it out at the theatre as his parents and sister Maanya, 19, watched the movie.

The child actor, who is based in Mumbai, has still not watched it.

"The only time I'm going to watch my film is when I'm allowed to watch it," he told The Straits Times on a WhatsApp video chat last Wednesday.

"I don't want to watch it illegally or unethically."

After the film's release, a disheartened Aarush launched a petition on Change.org, urging the authorities to reconsider their decision and grant the film a U/A certification, which would allow even children under 12 to watch the movie, but with parental guidance.

The petition has garnered more than 5,000 signatures as at Tuesday.