Amol Palekar files a plea against the CBFC in Supreme Court

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been in the eye of controversy for some time now. Considering the controversies around Shahid Kapoor-Alia Bhatt's 'Udta Punjab', Konkana Sen Sharma's 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' and Raveena Tandon's 'Maatr' there has been a demand for reform.

While Bollywood filmmakers have been demanding for a reform in the certification process, filmmaker Amol Palekar recently wrote a plea to the Supreme Court against the pre-censorship process. Talking about his petition, Amol Palekar said, "After about 47 years, the constitutional validity of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act of 1952 is being challenged.Usually, producers or directors approach the judiciary to seek relief if their film is being denied certification. No one finds it necessary to hit the broader issues beyond their own specific immediate reliefs. It’s high time we proceed to reclaim our evaporating freedom."

The veteran director also added that he feels that considering the era these laws were formatted in, they have become redundant today. "When content on television and the internet is free of censorship, the same content being altered, cut or deleted before being shown in a cinema hall is an attack on our right to equality. Today modern technology makes dissemination of information available in real time through a variety of media, many of which are either not regulated or if regulated, not subjected to pre-censorship," the director asserted.

When asked the CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani about the same he agreed and said that a revamp is necessary. Pahlaj concluded saying, "We need a rating system. Films are made from a realistic perspective and the current guidelines make it difficult for the Board to certify them. But I don’t agree with the recommendations made by the Shyam Benegal Committee. After assuming office in January 2015, I had sent a set of recommendations in February and then in June. We are waiting for a response from the government."

Supreme Court has responded to Amol’s plea and ordered the Centre (I&B Ministry) and the CBFC to respond to his letter.