Futile film fetters

It would be a cause for great disappointment if the Shyam Benegal committee’s recommendations on restricting the censor board’s powers to merely classify movies are not implemented. The committee’s thinking was along modern lines, in conformity with international practices wherein artistic freedom is fully supported and censorship is passé. The proposed system would warn people about the possible content of a film they may find offensive or for minors to be accompanied by adults. A number of distinguished film personalities went through the system and came to the conclusion that our censor board’s practices date back to the time movies were first made in India in the early 20th century. To dump their proposals now would be to exclude our entire film- making process from modernity.

Administrative and political control of films exists only in totalitarian or conservative societies and regimes. It is a crying shame if it is true that planned reforms are being put off only to protect the leading personalities of the ruling party. The debate over a particular film pitting the merits of a politician against the demerits of another is said to be central to what is happening now with the Benegal committee proposals being put in cold storage. Such is the narrow vision of politicians that a whole creative industry must suffer controls. India is not North Korea in matters such as freedom of the creative arts. In any case, the fetters placed on our films are futile in a time when cinematic content is available uncensored on international Net- based film channels available as subscription services. We must recognise the mores of the age and change suitably.