New Delhi : Government plans to make changes in the six decades-old cinematography law to tone up the functioning of the censor board, which has been at the centre of many controversies.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu says he is examining the recommendations made by Justice Mudgal committee and Benegal committee but right now he cannot give a timeline on bringing the measure in Parliament.
“Justice (Mukul) Mudgal committee and (Shyam) Benegal committee have made some important recommendations. I am examining them. At the end of the day, you have to implement those. I may have to make some changes in the law also. I am moving in that direction.
“I can’t give you any time frame because of the Winter session. I don’t think I will be able to complete this. My efforts will certainly be to take up the new legislation in the session thereafter,” he told PTI.
Naidu says he has even sought the opinion of board members on the recommendations of the two committees as he believes they have an insider’s perspective on the problems.
“Recently, I called the secretary of the censor board. I told him that some important recommendations have been made.
You sit among yourself and discuss. And come to some conclusion…
“I told him to study and get back. Government is open to making necessary changes… Cinematograph Act came in 1952 and film certification has to be done under that Act.”
Naidu, who took over the charge of the ministry about four months ago, says he is aware of the controversies surrounding the censor board and feels there should be some restraint from both the sides — Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and film industry.
“I am aware of certain controversies with regards to censor certificate issue and censor board. Controversies per se should have been avoided. People should not speak outside, both sides.
“Film industry is all about creative people and film production has to follow certain grammar. Certification procedures should take into account this grammar of cinema and its nuances. Both the board and producers and directors should work in a collaborative manner in the larger interest of this creative industry.” .
The long overdue move to introduce online censor certification will finally see the light of day, in January next year.
Confirming the move to make the arduous process of acquiring censor certification far easier, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani says, “We’ve been working on the process of online certification for the past year. The work is now on a war footing. We’ll be ready to go online from January 2017.”
Besides eliminating the need for producers to physically present themselves at the Censor Board office, online certification will also eliminate all possibilities of corruption in issuing film certification. “We’ve already eliminated any chances of corruption. Middlemen and others offering to obtain censor certificates out of queue are no more part of the censorship system, at least in the Mumbai office,” adds Nihalani.
Mumbai : A body of film and TV producers has said films like “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” and “Raees”, which are set for release, should not be targeted after the cinema owners association announced it won’t allow the screening of the movies with Pakistani artistes .
The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd (Guild) said it stands by the government in its fight against terrorism but stopping films from releasing will result in heavy losses for the makers.
Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) yesterday announced it won’t release movies starring actors from Pakistan, in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa.
This has put an uncertainty on the release of “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” as it features Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan.
The movie, also starring Aishwarya Rai, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, is slated to hit theatres on October 28.
“The Guild in no uncertain terms confirms the film industry stands in unison with the Government’s recent steps to counter terrorism. It will naturally abide by any decision taken by the Central Government with regard to future policy on issuance of work visa to foreign artistes.
“However, we would urge the central and state governments to appreciate that the film producers, who have already shot their films or are in the process of completing their unfinished films, should not end up paying heavy price for no fault of theirs due to engaging the services of talent from across the border.
“These artistes were employed through proper legal channels prior to the recent escalation of hostilities,” Mukesh Bhatt, President of the Guild, said in a statement here.
The Guild urged the government to ensure smooth release of “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, which has already been certified by the Censor Board.
“The Guild urges the central and state governments to not only ensure smooth release of such films, including ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, as well as to guide the industry on the way forward with respect to the mechanism to be adopted in hiring or utilisation of talent associated with our neighbours.”
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s another upcoming movie, “Dear Zindagi”, is also among the projects on the receiving end of COEAI’s decision. It stars Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar and is set to release in November.