New Delhi: Documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma's 'Final Solution', an internationally-acclaimed film on the Gujarat riots in 2002, finally got the Censor Board clearance, the Board's chairman Anupam Kher said today (Oct 7, 2004).

The movie, which uses interviews and archive footage to recount the violence in Gujarat following the Godhra train carnage, was mired in controversy after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially denied it clearance.

"The film had been rejected by the examining committee of the CBFC. However, the revising committee of the board took up the matter and gave clearance to it," Kher said from Mumbai.

The CBFC chief said the movie, which won two awards at the Berlin film Festival earlier this year, was awarded a U/A certificate (under parental guidance). Asked about the contents of the movie, he said, "It is a testament of truth and shows what happened in the past."

Kher was part of the 11-member revising committee of the CBFC, which reviewed the movie. The committee also included renowned filmmakers Shyam Benegal and Ashok Pandit whose debut feature film "Sheen" portraying the predicament of Kashmiri Pandits was released recently.

Kher denied there were any political reasons behind the denial of approval to 'Final Solution' when the director had approached the board for the first time in April.

"Government has nothing to do with this whole affair," he said, rejecting accusations that CBFC members appointed by the erstwhile BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) members were behind the rejection.