Snipped for the small screen

The Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has recently been at the receiving end of filmmakers’ ire. As per the rules,all film content requires separate certifications for theatrical and satellite viewing. Often,filmmakers have to execute cuts to make them “fit for telecast”. However,in April,The Dirty Picture’s television premiere was cancelled hours before it was to go on air,allegedly following a directive from the Information & Broadcast Ministry. The channel and producers were then told that the National Award-winning film can be aired after 11pm. This,after removing nine minutes’ content and obtaining a censorship clearance in advance. Jannat 2 suffered a similar fate last month. More recently,Jism 2 and Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum’s promos were certified adult and not allowed a TV telecast. While makers of the latter were ready with an edited version,Jism 2’s promo was released online.

These incidents are in stark contrast with recent claims made by CBFC. In a recent interview to this publication,its CEO Pankaja Thakur had stated that efforts are on to provide as much creative freedom to filmmakers as possible and move towards making cinema progressive. When contacted on recent developments,Thakur refused to comment,adding that Joint Secretary,Information & Broadcast Ministry,is the concerned official. The latter remained unavailable for comment.

However,another official from CBFC,on condition of anonymity,said that this recent change in policies follows a barrage of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed across the country against film’s “offensive” content. “The song Bhaag DK Bose from Delhi Belly and the clearance for The Dirty Picture to be telecast on TV enraged many viewers and the censor board was blamed. This is the reason I&B Ministry is implementing strict rules,” explains the source.

Most filmmakers view the censor board’s recent ratings as a curb on creative freedom. Onir points out that Aamir Khan’s show Satyamev Jayate,which addressed child abuse as an issue among others,is on both Doordarshan and Star Plus at 11am on Sundays. “But a film that does the same does not even deserve to be aired?” he quips.

Bhatt believes that Jism 2’s leading lady Sunny Leone’s status as a porn star may have affected the decision. “Jism 2 has an adult theme and the song promos will naturally have some sexual content. However,the one we wished to release on television was a watered down version. There is more sexual content than that on television,” claims Bhatt. Tanuj Garg,CEO,Balaji Motion Pictures,which produced The Dirty Picture,agrees that films these days can be “victims of perception and therefore exceptions”. The production house has contested the I&B directive of airing the film post 11pm and are currently awaiting the censor board’s decision.

Some filmmakers,such as Onir,Bhatt and Jannat 2 director Kunal Deshmukh,are not averse to the idea of an 11pm slot. “That is the least they can do for filmmakers. Most of us struggle to make our movies and release them.

Whom will we turn to,if not the government?” concludes Onir.