Starring Cate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes, the film had created ripples abroad, not in the least because an Indian was in the director's chair. Like his controversy-scarred Bandit Queen, Kapur's latest venture is also based on a true story, of the rise of the independent-minded Elizabeth Tudor to the throne of England in 1558. Elizabeth was also nominated for a slew of Oscars, but missed taking the coveted stattuete home.

According to sources, in a meeting held about 10 days ago, the censor board took offense tothree scenes, one in which the Queen orders the beheading of Lord Arundale. Said sources on behalf of Kapur, who is in Los Angeles at the moment, this scene is key to the narrative of the film. ``The scene marks the transformation of Elizabeth from a vulnerable woman to a cold, ruthless ruler,'' they said. Cuts have also been made to a lovemaking scene between Blanchett and the Duke of Norfolk, and another where the French Prince tells the Queen, ``I want to pat your queenie.'' This, Kapur has said, only goes to underline the attitude that the French aristocracy had at the time towards the English aristocray. In a faxed message from LA, he added that ``For me, I would rather that the people of India saw the film the way I intended the audiences all over the world have seen it.''

But what seems to have got Kapur's goat is the fact that Elizabeth has been rated for adult viewing only. ``Kapur feels that by this, students of history will be denied a chance to see the film,'' informed sources. The film'sdistributor, Sanjeev Bhargava, also conceded that the certificate had upset their plans. ``The film has been patronised by students of British cinema the world over,'' he told Express Newsline. ``Shekhar is a sad man as a director today because now, students will not get to see the film.'' But Asha Parekh, Chairperson of the Censor Board, merely said that only when a film is of an `adult' nature is it certified as such.

Kapur now plans to appeal to the Film Certification Appelate Tribunal headed by Bhaktawar Lentin, and the two parties will reportedly meet on August 18. The film has been produced by Alison Owen, Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan of the UK-based Working Title Films, which has to its credit films like Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Borrowers and Dead Man Walking.

``If all goes well, the film should be released by the third week of August,'' sources said. As soon as they have the certificate in hand, the distributors plan to release the film in Mumbai and Delhi simultaenouslyand later in Bangalore, Pune, Calcutta, Chennai and other cities. Southern cities like Coimbatore, Thiruvanathapuram and Kochi would be hot favourites with the distributors as ``literacy levels are high in these cities and the film would be well appreciated there,'' reasoned Bhargava. They are now waiting for Kapur to arrive here before taking a final decision on the matter.

But the original promotion splash, as per which Kapur, Blanchett and Fiennes were to land in Mumbai for the August 6 premiere and attend a starry do later, hasn't changed. The date with the Queen stands at August 5, Mumbai.