Govt sets up Shyam Benegal led panel to revamp Censor Board

New Delhi

The government on Friday constituted a committee headed by eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal to look into the revamp of the Censor Board.

The panel, which would submit its report in two months, includes filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey and film critic Bhawana Somaaya.

Apart from these, National Film Development Council MD Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy would also be part of committee.

A statement released here said the panel has been formed “in sync with the vision” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The recommendations of this Committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework, the statement said.

“During their deliberations, the Committee would be expected to take note of the best practises in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression,” he said.

The Committee would recommend broad guidelines,procedures under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, rules for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the Screening Committee.

The staffing pattern of CBFC would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework which would provide efficient, transparent user friendly services, the statement added.

Friday’s announcement came within days of Information & Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley telling PTI that the “time has come” to have a re-look at the functioning of Censor Board as he would like the Certification Board to be “controversy- free”.

Filmmakers have complained of arbitrary objections and cuts sought by the Board in the recent past including the criticism for the cuts the latest James Bond movie ‘Spectre’ had to go through for its screening in India.

A list of banned “cuss” words, circulated by CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani had also become a subject of controversy.

When asked, Benegal told PTI that the I&B ministry “spoke to me a couple of days ago on telephone and I am yet to know exactly what the proposal is. There is only one question that is asked to me whether I would like to be a member of the committee, which is looking into the problem of film certification.

“This is a committee formed by the government to see how effective, transparent and satisfactory the system is.” PTI

Censorship issues must be looked at from time to time: Benegal
Mumbai

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, named by the I&B Ministry to head a panel to look into the revamp of the censor board, today said that the film certification body has been no stranger to controversies but there should be frequent review of issues related to censorship.

The 81-year-old National-award winning director said there is no permanent solution to censorship issues.

“Time to time these things happen. (It has been happening) since 1928, when the censor board was first formed and it later on became the film certification board and so on… Time to time, these things need to be looked at. There is no permanent solution to this problem. This is another committee formed by the government,” Benegal told PTI.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley had recently hinted at reformation of the board, which has been mired in controversies off late.

The panel, which also includes filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey and film critic Bhawana Somaaya, will look into the Cinematograph Act and the functioning of the board and submit its report in two months.

National Film Development Council MD Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy are also part of the committee.

“The minister spoke to me a couple of days ago. I am yet to know exactly what the proposal is. I was asked whether I would like to be a member of the committee, which is looking into the problems of film certification. This is a committee formed by the government to see how effective, transparent and satisfactory the system is.”

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has become controversy’s favourite child since the appointment of Pahlaj Nihalani as its chairperson.

Asked whether he is confident that the new panel will help the board emerge out of controversies, Benegal said, “It’s not a question of whether something will be controversial. From time to time, things do become controversial and sometimes they don’t.

“… There won’t be any question of permanent solution to it… It’s a continuing thing. There will be more committees even in the future.”

The recommendations of this committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework.