Activists want messages for like those shown during smoking scenes.
Picture for representational purpose only.
Hyderabad: The AP Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is under pressure from women activists demanding that a statutory warning or a cautionary scroll be shown every time a scene depicting atrocities against women is screened.
While the CBFC said that it still has to consider this, activists say that many scenes, both on television and in films to depict the hero’s bravery. They said that there should be a note stating that assault on women is not encouraged.
Even after several representations and memorandums by the Progressive Organisation for Women to the CBFC, no action has been taken so far.
Sandhya V., president of POW, said, “When issues like smoking or alcohol consumption are considered important enough to be discussed and there is so much awareness, why is such a critical issue like atrocities against women not given much importance? Every alternate film usually has either a rape or a molestation scene or a ragging scene or a dowry scene. These scenes are not toned down or shot with sensitivity. If you have to portray heroism, then why not find ways where the man’s respect for women is genuine and not forced?”
She mentioned that though acts of crimes, like sexual harassment, get more screen space, only smoking and drinking, which are not even banned in the state, come with warnings.
“I believe that it is good to have a statutory warning against smoking or drinking. But at the same time, there needs to be a strong consideration for this. I have also spoken to the regional manager, CBFC, but in vain. This can be possible only when there is a vision and it is not just limited to oral discussions,” Sandhya said.
Agreeing with her, Usha Rani from Sannahita, another organisation for protection of women’s rights said, “Abuse and abusive language against women is not a rarity in movies and more than anything, people watching these films get influenced. Women are being socially, physically and sexually assaulted. Men and teenagers must be taught that it is not ‘okay’ to treat women in a certain way. I believe that a prominent warning on the right bottom of the screen must be published.”
Tripurana Venkatratnam, chairperson, AP State Mahila Commission, meanwhile, said that it should not just be limited to movies, but should also be extended to television commercials.
“Women have become commodities. Sometimes it is not even thought as offensive. They are being degraded by the day and most often very unnecessarily. There need to be statutory warnings that say that they are not encouraging any assault against women,” she said.
Dhanalakshmi, regional officer, CBFC, Hyderabad said, “If the decision is taken by the authority, only then can we go by it.”
“However, there have been a few discussions on it,” she added.
( Source : dc )
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