Posts tagged censor board

From A to U/A: Filmmakers dodge censors

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1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Bharati Dubey & Hemali Chhapia (THE TIMES OF INDIA; May 12, 2013)

 

MUMBAI: In recent times, moviemakers across the country have become adept at producing content that can pass through the censor board’s scrutiny with a U/A certificate – movies that can be watched under parental guidance.

A Right to Information (RTI) Act application reveals that today Indian cinema, cutting across genres and languages, produces the largest number of movies that appeal to young adults. In 2012, 389 of the total 880 movies made were awarded the U/A certificate. On the other hand, the count of adult movies fell from 244 to 150 in just one year.

Experts said over time, producers have figured out ways to smartly weave in an adult scene, a smart line, a romantic scene or violence, into the movie, without any major cuts.

The censor board applied a total of 521 cuts in 2008 for passing 1,325 films, 529 cuts in 1,255 films that were made in 2009, 432 cuts in 2010 for reviewing 1,274 films, 444 cuts in 1,255 films in 2011, and 330 cuts in 880 films reviewed in 2012.

RTI activist Vihar Durve, who received this information, alleged that these days, censor board officials are in hand in glove with film producers and have been clearing films containing obscene content.

A senior producer, though, told TOI that there are two reasons for the trend towards U/A certificates – one, dodging the increasingly vociferous moral police; two, fear of losing revenue. “After all, broadcasters are hesitant to More >

We actors are not your mothers-Saif Ali Khan

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Saif Ali Khan shoots from the hip about allegations that Go Goa Gone violates the Cigarette Smoking Act

Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 11, 2013)

 

While Saif Ali Khan knew it was a gamble venturing into the world of zombies, the producer of Go Goa Gone, directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, is enthused by the favourable response the film’s trailer has garnered.

Says the actor-filmmaker: “I am feeling great. Sometimes, our job is to do something unexpected. It’s very tempting to follow the beaten path. It’s so boring making the same thing. When Kunal Khemu got the script and the directors narrated it to me, I thought it was very funny and unusual.”

But hasn’t the Goa Government lashed out against his production house Illuminati Films, alleging defamation of the state and violation of the Cigarette Smoking Act? Saif seems rather amused. “I will sort it out,” he says.

But doesn’t he think showing actors smoking on the big screen has an adverse impact on society? “This is a very last generation idea. We actors are not your mothers to tell you that smoking is bad. Why can’t I just be an actor? I don’t smoke in my personal life…” he shoots back.

Far from being anxious about the controversy that has erupted over his film, Saif is hoping the CBFC (Censor Board of Certification) will support him. “Why are these NGOs not objecting to the guns and the killing in the film? How about banning video games that have more violence than films? As for the allegations of misusing More >

Showing our film to other bodies undermines CBFC’s position-Vishal Bhardwaj

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Vishal Bhardwaj on the controversy surrounding Ek Thi Daayan

Bharati Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 11, 2013)

 

The National Commission for Women (NCW) had summoned Ekta Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj, the producers of Ek Thi Daayan (ETD), to New Delhi on the basis of a complaint filed by Kolkata-based Wiccan priestess Ipsita Roy Chakraverti. However, the producers did not appear before NCW on Tuesday and were represented by lawyers. Chakraverti had expressed concern about the negative portrayal of witches in ETD, which features Emraan Hashmi, Huma Qureshi, Kalki Koechlin and Konkona Sen Sharma. Her complaint was based on her viewing of the film’s promos and not the film. Following the hearing, the order passed by the NCW asked the producers to provide a CD of the film for a viewing by the commission.

Says Bhardwaj, “The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has already viewed and certified the film. They are the final authority as per the law of the land and showing it to other bodies, after they have cleared it, undermines the role and position of the CBFC.” The makers have further clarified that the film is not derogatory towards anyone and a disclaimer to this effect has been added before the commencement of the film. Bhardwaj adds, “Of the seven members who watched our film, six were women!”

Sunny Leone’s Laila song altered for TV

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Shootout At Wadala makers change lyrics in Sunny Leone’s item number at Censor Board’s behest

Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; April 10, 2013)

 

The Censor Board seems to have sprung into action yet again. And this time Sanjay Gupta’s Shootout At Wadala has come under CBFC’s radar.

The board has apparently taken an objection to certain words in Sunny Leone’s item number in the film from being aired as part of the television promo. And to comply with the board’s demands, the makers have altered the lyrics from Laila teri le legi to Laila tujhe loot legi for the telly audience.

A source says, “The Censor Board felt that it had to be changed to make it more appropriate for the TV audience. The makers had to re-dub the line and the new version will now be shown on television.”

Tanuj Garg, CEO of the production house says, “Yes, various modifications had to be made in the Laila promo at the behest of CBFC to get it aired on TV.”

Why Tusshar Kapoor shuttled between Delhi and Mumbai four days in a row to shoot this song

It was almost a date drama for Tusshar Kapoor recently. The actor had two shoot schedules in Mumbai and Delhi on the same days. According to sources, the actor’s dates on the sets of Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming film in Mumbai and Shashant Shah’s Bajaate Raho in the national capital were coinciding with each other. And Tusshar had to shoot for the Mumbai leg during the day and fly to Delhi in the nights for four days straight.

A source says, “Gupta wanted Tusshar in the song More >

I&B Ministry calls for truce between filmmakers, CBFC over censorship issues

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2013)

 

At a time when Hindi films have come under criticism for disrespectful portrayal of women, and Censor Board decisions are increasingly being viewed as arbitrary, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry has stepped in to broker peace between the warring parties – the producers and the Board. The bone of contention being the Cinematograph Act 1952 that the film industry thinks is outdated. The I&B Ministry has called for a meeting with all parties concerned between April 3 and April 5, though the venue hasn’t been decided yet. Representing the film industry will be Farhan Akhtar, Ramesh Sippy, President of the Producers’ Guild Mukesh Bhatt, President of the Association of Motion Pictures and TV Programme Producers (AMTPP) Sajid Nadiadwala and Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association Chief TP Aggarwal. Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chief Leela Samson and CBFC CEO Pankaja Thakur will represent the censors. Also present will be senior members from the special panel that was instituted under the chairmanship of judicial expert Mukul Mudgal to review the functioning of the Censor Board.

The meeting will set the pace for the necessary amendments to the Cinematograph Act 1952, after taking into consideration suggestions by all concerned. Special song and dance numbers, foul language, and scenes portraying actors and actresses smoking and drinking are likely to be discussed during the meet.

Aggarwal confirmed the More >

Censor asks for deletion of pre-marriage slapping scene in upcoming film

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Bharati Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 29, 2013)

 

The Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) has shifted focus to slapping scenes in movies. A film titled Bazar-E-Husn, based on Munshi Premchand’s Urdu novel of the same name, is being issued an ‘A’ certificate with three cuts for its depiction of violence against women. Says producer AK Mishra, “They have asked me to delete three slapping scenes, including the one in which a villain slaps his wife. I was told by the committee members that they have a directive from the board that atrocities against women cannot be shown in cinema.”

The CBFC letter addressed to the producer states that only the visuals of slapping scenes after marriage could be retained. The remaining slapping scenes have to be deleted.

Insisting that this is a period film, Mishra says, “I find these rules ridiculous.” He has refused to accept the cuts and now the film has been referred to the revising committee.

When asked how the film industry is reacting to this new rule, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt accuses the CBFC of forcing its personal standards of taste and morality on the audience. He says, “The industry is too afraid to own up that we are afraid.” He says that those who suggest that movies contribute to growing violence against women need to back their claims with credible evidence.

Writer Kamlesh Pandey says, “Everything needs to be in the service of the story and what period it is set in. For example, if you are making the Mahabharata, you More >

Table No 21 under Censor Board’s scanner

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; December 28, 2012)

 

Back in 1943 when freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose mouthed the words “Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi dunga”, it moved an entire nation.

Back in present times: With Paresh Rawal saying these exact words in Table No.21, it has come under the radar of the Censor Boards.

A source says, “Paresh had a scene with this line. The words remain the same but the context is different. The Censor Board has however objected to this line and have asked it to be edited out.” Producer Viki Rajani says, “Yes, the board asked us to delete the line as it may hurt people’s sentiments. Though we are just days away from the release, we managed to convince Pareshji to come and dub for a new line. Unfortunately, the effect won’t be the same.”

I’m gay, but not a ‘gay director’-Onir

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6 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

National Award-winning director Onir talks about how India’s homophobic film industry is still uncomfortable with the idea of a movie showing two men making eye contact

As told to Jyothi Prabhakar (BOMBAY TIMES; December 9, 2012)

 

“This is not a happy piece. This is an angry one. Today, many of us are getting on with our lives, with the way things are, but kind of living invisible lives, where you don’t talk about it, because in India, like all over the world, society is not intrinsically homophobic. Homosexuality is accepted… till you talk about it. For me, from the time I started My Brother… Nikhil, even before that, I was very clear I wanted to address my sexuality. People opposed.

I was told idiotic things like ‘iss character ko bisexual bana do’. But I said no. I wanted to do it my way, it was my identity.

Today, it irritates me whenever someone goes, ‘a gay director da da da’. Does that report end with ‘a heterosexual reporter reports’? Why am I being tagged?

Though I don’t want to be called a gay director, I’m not ashamed of being gay. I come from a very small town in Bhutan. I didn’t know the word gay till I was in college, when I discovered that I was attracted to men. I didn’t go through mental agony, I didn’t think ‘Oh my God, what’s happened to me?’ I accepted it and moved on.

In Berlin, at the Christopher Gay Parade, I saw three hundred thousand people marching — one third of the whole of Berlin was there on the streets, and there were people with children More >

Films that depict smoking to get U/A

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9 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Also, the actor who holds the cigarette will have to warn audiences about the consequences of the hazardous habit, according to CBFC’s rule

Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 8, 2012)

 

All films that show a protagonist smoking will automatically be granted a ‘U/A’ certificate by the Censor Board of Film Certification, no matter what the rest of their content may be, a source from the CBFC told Mirror.

So even if a film like, say, Haathi Mere Saathi or Andaaz Apna Apna that children love, had featured a character blowing smoke rings, the censors would have had to grant it a ‘U/A’ certificate, according to the source. “In addition, the disclaimer regarding cigarette smoking has to have a voiceover from the person who smokes on screen. Hence in Heroine, audiences will hear Kareena Kapoor warning them against cigarette smoking at the beginning of the film and after the interval,” said the source and pointed out that there’ll be no exceptions.

“We’re following Information & Broadcasting guidelines regarding smoking scenes. A static disclaimer has to be displayed at the bottom of the screen whenever a character is shown smoking. The actor or actors who smoke must announce the health hazards of smoking through a voiceover. And brand names of cigarettes have to be blurred. These guidelines have to be followed for every film, and there’s no question of making exceptions. Guidelines pertaining to smoking and animal welfare are non-negotiable,” according to the More >

Chakravyuh in censor trouble

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9 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

The CBFC strikes down a song from Prakash Jha’s film as members felt it is a personal attack on the country’s top industrialists. Director agrees to put a disclaimer to retain it

Sanjeev Devasia and Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 7, 2012)

 

Prakash Jha’s film Chakravyuh has run into trouble with the Censor Board over the song Tata, Birla, Ambani aur Bata, sab ne hai desh ko kaata, sung by Kailash Kher and picturised on Abhay Deol.

Twice, the Censor Board did not pass the song because members felt it was a personal attack on the country’s top industrialists and intended to defame them.

Last week, the song was rejected by the examining committee and later, when the filmmakers approached the review committee. Once again, the committee cited the same grounds for rejection.

When contacted, Jha admitted the film has a song naming these industrialists. “We have a song where we have used names symbolically. We have even used Madhuri Dixit’s name. The names of industrialists have been used to represent a mindset. We are not targeting any of these industrialists in particular and all of them are friends of mine,” said Jha.

“These names are just generic names but members of the Censor Board argued these industrialists are brands. Only after we put a disclaimer saying these names have been used symbolically and we do not mean any harm or disrespect to any individual or brand that the censors finally agreed to pass the song,” the director added.

Jha is no stranger to More >

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