A bill suggesting changes to the Cinematograph Act of 1952 will be introduced in the Parliament this year. A Times Of India report quoted a source saying, “The State Minister is personally looking into the details of the Bill. Based on the report submitted by the Revising Panel, led by Shyam Benegal, the bill will aim at reforming the current way of working of the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification).”
The Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on January 1, to revamp the functioning of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC). According to the amendments, the CBFC will now have a two-fold role. There will be a separate Monitoring Committee and Revising Committee, both of which will remain independent of each other. Every film will have to get clearances from each committee. The act itself will undergo major revisions, and it is expected that there will be new guidelines to follow.
The CBFC has come under heavy criticism in the past couple of years. Under Pahalaj Nihalani, the CBFC adopted a conservative stand when it came to certifying films. The censorship of a kiss-scene in Spectre, the more recent controversy surrounding Udta Punjab have only served to make the CBFC more unpopular. Irked with the CBFC’s decision, many prominent members of the film industry have repeatedly asked for an overhaul of the system.
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When questioned, Nihalani said that the changes will be good for the industry. “Currently, the Act gives the Board the power to suggest cuts when the content does not adhere to the guidelines. The changes will prove to be good for the industry. The new grading system will be a well-chalked out one that classifies films clearly based on age and target audience. Filmmakers will now have lesser reasons to complain about the CBFC. It could take time for the Parliament to pass it, but the changes that Bollywood was promised will happen.”
News of the amendments to the 64 year old act comes barely a week after the CBFC annual meeting. The Times of India report alleged that Nihalani walked out of the meeting after some CBFC members did not agree with his views on censorship.
Image courtesy : thehindu.com