‘Break up U/A category into U/A12+ & U/A15+’

On categorisation of films, the Shyam Benegal committee has recommended it should be more specific, and apart from the U category, the U/A category be broken up into further sub-categories — U/A12+ and U/A15+. The A category should also be subdivided into A and AC (Adult with Caution) categories.

Besides Benegal, the panel includes actor Kamal Hassan, filmmaker Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Piyush Pandey, Goutam Ghose, Bhawana Somaaya and senior officials of the I&B ministry.

Another case when the panel has recommended that the CBFC can refuse certification is when the “content in a film crosses the ceiling laid down in the highest category of certification”.

As per the recommendations, the filmmaker must specify the category of certification being sought and the target audience. The objective of these guidelines would be to ensure that children and adults are protected from potentially harmful or unsuitable content and audiences, and particularly parents are empowered to make informed viewing decisions. The recommendations have been made to ensure that artistic expression and creative freedom are not unduly curbed in the process of classification of films and the process is responsive, at all times, to social change

The committee has sought some more time to give recommendations on the certification of films on issues relating to clearances to be obtained from the Animal Welfare Board under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. It also sought time to make recommendations on issues relating to the depiction of smoking in films, where films are required to show a disclaimer in every scene that involves smoking, as per a directive from the health and family welfare ministry.