Films: Arun Jaitley for rules, not whims

Union minister for information and broadcasting Arun Jaitley and minister of state for information and broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore on Saturday met the government-appointed Shyam Benegal panel to look into the revamp of the the Central Board of Film Certification. In the meeting, Mr Jaitley said that the film certification guidelines should be as non-discretionary as possible.

Mr Jaitley observed that in most countries of the world there is a mechanism for certifying films and documentaries, but it has to be ensured that in doing so, artistic creativity and freedom do not get curtailed. He also said that the film certification guidelines need contemporary interpretation and they should be made as non discretionary as possible.

The committee will study the existing procedure being followed by the CBFC for certification of original films, their dubbed versions, as well as re-certification of films for screening on other media platforms. The committee will also study various directives of courts, as well as notifications issued by other government agencies like the ministry of health & family welfare, ministry of environment & forests, Animal Welfare Board of India etc, which have a bearing on the process of film certification. The staffing pattern of the CBFC would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework which would provide transparent, user-friendly services. Mr Rathore expressed confidence that the committee would provide a holistic framework for interpretation of the provisions of Cinematograph Act and Rules for the benefit of the chairperson and the CBFC screening committee.

“The way CBFC has been functioning over the years must change and we must bring in major reforms. That is the intent of the government. The intent of the government is clear: Let’s move from what has been to what can be now,” he said.

The government does not want to get into the nitty-gritty of what people must view or not view, that’s the job of CBFC,” Mr Rathore said.

Mr Benegal said there is a need to move towards a new system of grading films in terms of age, maturity, sensibility and sensitivity instead of censorship. Describing the meeting as a “positive and important” step, Mr Benegal said, “It is important to look from point of view of grading films rather than cutting them,” he said.