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 in conformity with international practices which support artistic freedom. The proposed system would warn people about the possible content of a film they may find offensive.

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 control of films exists only in totalitarian societies.

It is a crying shame if it is true that planned reforms are being put off only to protect 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.

Such is the narrow vision of politicians that a whole creative industry must suffer controls. India is not North Korea. In any case, the fetters placed on our films are futile in a time when cinemas are available uncensored on Net-based film channels available as subscription services.