By Dhruv Shekhar
With the removal of Pahlaj Nahlani and the subsequent appointment of Prasoon Joshi as Honorary President of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a new era for the film certification board begins. Nahlanis tenure since his appointment in January 2015 was one which was riddled with controversies. This was seen in statements critiquing previous CBFC presidents or hypocritical stances exhibited by him in cutting down alleged obscenities in some films while allowing for the same in others.
Such instances made him a polarizing figure, for there was a complete absence of him employing reasonable differentials in the censorship of certain films while allowing for the same in others. Films such as Aligarh and the recently released Lipstick under my Burkha, chastised for their depiction of a homosexual relationship, were refused certification on the grounds that they contained audio pornography. However, sex comedies such as Kya Kool Hain Hum and Mastizaade encountered no problems in getting clearances for their trailer and movie releases.
The dawn of a huge responsibility
Going back to my aforesaid point on the beginning of a new era, it is purely in theory, at least for the moment. While the ascension of an individual like Prasoon Joshi is a noteworthy moment which has been greeted by a raucous support by members of the film fraternity, he has an enviable task up his sleeves. The first one would be to redeem the reputation of the CBFC which, in recent years, has assumed the role of an overarching regulatory body with a penchant for arbitrary action. Secondly, he would have to work towards changing the popular perception regarding the CBFC from that of a censor board to that of a certification body.
Certification. Not censorship
In a bid to do this, it is essential to recognize that the CBFCs scope should be restricted to categorizing the suitability of films to audience groups on the basis of age and maturity. The only instances when it can refuse certification should be when a film contains any depiction contravening Section 5B (1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. This deals with exhibiting content which works against the integrity of the nation and adversely impacts relations with foreign countries, amongst other aspects. In addition to this, certification should not be granted only in cases where a film’s content crosses the ceiling laid down in the highest category of certification.
Films as a means of education
Films have always served as an essential iconography to represent the societal issues and sentiments of their time. An example would be the popularity of the angry young man figure of Amitabh Bachchan back in the 1970s. His representation of an anti-hero figure resonated with the masses who were dissatisfied with the government’s efforts then.
With an exposure to a variety of films from across the world, the Indian masses now demand a variety in content. This is an aspect which has largely been fulfilled by the efforts of creative professionals in the film, television and theatre industries who have provided a wide spectrum of films appealing to the palette of various sections of the society. These rejected movies are ones which can have a tremendous transformative impact on the way in which feminism, sexuality and other societal and legal elements and taboos are understood in our country. A regulatory body such as the CBFC should thus work in furtherance of the above agenda by serving as the link between the government, film industry and the consuming masses rather than being an entity infamous for courting unnecessary controversy.
A great leap forward
The involvement of individuals from these industries in the CBFC is nothing new. Now, the hope is that the involvement of individuals from outlets such as theatre, music, advertisement, and films would ensure a wider representation and improved implementation of views and policies. An implementation of various media reforms as suggested by the Mudgal Committee of 2013 and the Benegal Committee of 2016 would be a big leap in redeeming the reputation and improving the functioning of the CBFC. After all, the worlds largest cinema industry needs a certification body that will allow it to spread its wings and not clip them when it journeys along newly found paths.
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