A committee headed by eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal has recommended cutting the powers of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to censor scenes or sequences of any film. It said the role of the board should only be restricted to certifying films for audience groups based on their age and maturity.

“We are recommending that CBFC should not be using scissors on any film. We are suggesting that in addition to different classifications that we have – we should have two categories of U/A, one plus 12 years of age and one plus 15 years of age and two categories of adult, one is normal adult and another adult with caution,” Mr Benegal told reporters in Delhi.

The committee constituted by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on January 1 to take a relook at the functioning of the controversy-ridden board, submitted its report to I&B minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday.

Apart from Mr 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.

The committee said the CBFC should refuse certification only when a film contains anything that contravenes the provisions of section 5B (1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

As per this section, a film shall not be certified if the competent authority feels that it or a part of it is against the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or involves defamation or contempt of court or is likely to incite the commission of any offence.

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.”

The Benegal panel has also recommended increasing the number of categories, including breaking the UA Category into UA12+ & UA15+. It also recommended dividing the Adult (A) category into A and AC (Adult with Caution) categories.

Benegal said, “We are against the CBFC’s use of scissors to cut scenes or sequences from a film. It should only certify films in categories and we have also recommended increasing the number of categories.”

“AC category films, mostly those with explicit sex scenes or gory violence scenes, will have restricted releases. They may not be shown in multiplexes and may be shown only post 11pm,” Benegal said.

While the Shyam Benegal-led panel has given its recommendations on various aspects, it has sought some more time to give recommendations on issues relating to clearances to be obtained from the Animal Welfare Board under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and aspects related to depiction of smoking in films.

The Committee shall give their recommendations on these issues by June 20.

According to a statement released by the I&B ministry, the objectives of the guidelines is that children and adults are protected from potentially harmful or unsuitable content while audiences, particularly parents, are empowered to make informed viewing decisions.

It is also aimed that artistic expression and creative freedom are not unduly curbed in the process of classification of films while keeping the certification process responsive to social change.

 

 

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