After Shri Pahlaj Nihlani took over as Chairman of CBFC, the decisions of Board are questioned very often, the cuts in movies aimed at to make more Sanskari. The government had sensed the frustration and anguish brewing in film industry against our Sanskari Chairman of CBFC and thus appointed a committee headed by Shyam Benegal to revisit the censor policy, the committee made certain recommendations. We thought that CBFC will take a cue, probably good sense will prevail upon and it will take a more realistic view in certifying the movies.
But the recent episode of Abhishek Chaubey's 'Udta Punjab' tells very different story. He has been asked so many cuts and removing the word Punjab from the title. It appears that the Board can allow a film to lie but can not allow it to tell the truth. Pankaj Butalia made a documentary 'The Texture of Loss' some time back, and this did not go well with CBFC, and Pankaj gone to Delhi High Court, the counsel of CBFC said that a fiction film is a work of fantasy and must, therefore be given more leeway for exhibition than a documentary, which actually tells things as they are-that is, tell the truth. Applying the same logic, the CBFC has denied certification to two documentaries-Kamal Swaroop's 'Dance for Democracy' and late Shubhradeep Chakravorty's 'En Dinosaur Muzaffarnagar' - in the past. Ironically, none of these actions are actually sanctioned either by The Cinematographic Act or by various interpretations that courts have held on free speech and on film certification. Yet, the individuals appointed to CBFC continue to act as if they are the sole guardians of public morality, free speech and permissiveness in the society.
The Government appointed Shyam Benegal Committee recommended self censorship-the most effective form of state censorship. But what will happen if a film maker does not wish to make changes, Benegal Committee's answer is 'no certification', and it says if CBFC refuses to clear films and advises cuts which film makers think are not appropriate, they can always challenge the decision in the court. But basically the committee was set up to curtail the powers of CBFC and not to burden courts with additional responsibility.
On the contrary, world over films have been critical of the state, of the arm or its actions. In the 135 years history of Hollywood hardly 20-25 movies were subjected to some kind of censor that too only in few states. You may witness the innumerable films that have been made there criticising the US Army for its actions in Vietnam and Iraq. But here in India situation is very different, if somebody dare to make that kind of movies than he will be branded as anti national by showing the army in bad light, if he will try to threadbare religious or caste related issues he will be branded for inciting communal violence.
A time has come when the creative people should be given more creative space to bring social, religious, communal issues to cellulide like other forms of expression i.e. Novel, stories and paintings.
.jpg "A Gumnam Actress Strips Nude to Protest Auto/taxi Fare Hike")
