Censor Board should accept rough cut of movies: Industry

Bengaluru: The Censor Board should be willing to accept rough cut of movies, instead of the current practice of considering only the first cut of movies, the industry demanded. After reviewing the rough cut - which often quite resembles the final cut - of a movie, the board can either give it a go ahead or can suggest changes for improvement, said reputed Kannada film maker and director Rajendra Singh Babu. At a session on Censor Board in India at the Bengaluru International Film Festival here on Saturday, the director of Muthina Haara fame suggested that the government should join hands with the Censor Board and the industry to bring down the delay involved in clearance of movies. “The board should be willing to look at rough  cut of movies, rather waiting for the first cut, and this can save a lot of time and money for movie makers and the industry overall will benefit,’’ he recommended. Film makers go through a lot of troubles as most movies are funded through debts. Censor Board delays are only adding to the woes of the movie industry, especially when such delays occur even after the release dates are fixed. The sad thing is, nobody is stopping TV serials that support extra marital relationships, immoral activities and crime, he lamented. 

Censor Board Regional Head Srinivasappa said the board understands the worries of the industry. However, as far as the delays are concerned, the board takes a maximum of 68 days to clear a movie.  This time is used for scrutiny, formation of committees, screening and in some cases, films need to go to review committees and a final tribunal. “We do not see any inordinate delay in clearing films in Karnataka.  Censor Board ratings are based on various parameters, including ethical and social acceptance etc. Not influenced by any subjective decisions, but circumstances, perceptions and content determine the grading of movies,” he explained.

Director Vidyashankar of the fest said, most controversies around movies are politically instigated or driven by activists groups.