Time to act on the cinema act?
It is a tragedy that the CBFC does not have intelligent chairmen like Hrisikesh Mukherjee or Vijay Anand
Amol Palekar, filmmaker It is high time the I&B Ministry gave a serious thought to amending the 1953 Cinematography Act
Manoj Kumar, actor
CBFC Chairman Pahalaj Nihalani (right) is again in the centre of a controversy. After the cuss word issue earlier this year, he now has been accused of autocratic functioning. Many board members now intend to take up the matter directly with the Prime Minister and I & B Ministry. Filmmaker Ashok Pundit tweeted against how arbitrarily Nihalani cut off the intimate kissing scenes in the latest James Bond thriller, Specter. Raghu Menon has been quoted as saying, “In my two-decade association with the censor board, I have never faced such humiliation as I am facing now.” However, Nihalani remains silent on the issue.
Industry veterans say that ever since the 1953 Cinematography Act came into being, such conflicts have never taken place. The best example of a Censor Board chairman was perhaps filmmaker Vijay Anand who was highly respected by the film fraternity and Censor Board members. Amol Palekar has been quoted as saying, “It is a tragedy that the CBFC does not have intelligent chairmen like Hrisikesh Mukherjee or Vijay Anand.” Even actor Asha Parekh, who is a former Board chief was strict in censoring the film Bandit Queen (1994) sans any conflicts with members. Anand used his special powers to censor Mr. & Mrs. Iyer (2002). Members supported him and resigned en masse after he tendered his resignation as CBFC chairman in July, 2002.
In fact, many insiders point out that Nihalani’s films that he made earlier, had double meaning words and songs. Many feel that he is in the helm of affairs purely because of his political connections.
In the present context it appears that the decision taken by the CBFC chairman is arbitrary. Talking about the issue, filmmaker Goutam Ghose says, “I strongly feel there is no need of censorship in Indian cinema. If the Board has to censor films then the huge television network, theater, music and all forms of performing arts should undergo censorship.”
Says veteran actor Manoj Kumar, “It is high time the I&B Ministry gave a serious thought to amending the outdated 1953 Cinematography Act.” One wonders what happened to the amended and redrafted act copy Anand submitted during his period as CBFC chairman. Even earlier CBFC chairperson Sharmila Tagore stated, “I also recommended certain amendments in the existing act. They are yet to be considered.”