Director Shyam Benegal stated that the ruling government has no role in film certification. He also supported the filmmakers’ concern about the proposal to amend the Cinematograph Act. On June 18, the Centre had sought public comments on the draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021. The bill proposes to penalize film piracy with a jail term and fine, introduce age-based certification, and empower the Central government to order recertification of an already certified film following receipt of complaints.
Several filmmakers and industry veterans were against this proposal as it creates a threat to freedom of speech and expression. It also limits the filmmakers’ creative liberty. A letter was written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcast, in this regard.
Shyam Benegal, who headed the committee of filmmakers, said to PTI, “I don’t understand why this has come up in the first place. I am actually at a loss, thinking what exactly is the point of this. Unless they want to hold on to and have chosen to function the way they want… to have control over the media. We are a democratic country, our media is supposed to be free.”
He added, “The government, in this case, has no role to play because they’ve already set up a system- the CBFC. So why is there a need for the government to come back into it? Naturally, the filmmakers would be worried that why is the government so concerned.”
He further said, “When there are well laid out principles, under which cinema, TV is already covered, now why do you have to come into it, particularly the government in power? People, opposition parties all will be concerned because it’s a power you’re not supposed to exercise. What’s the point of having an amendment?”
Benegal emphasized the point that there should not be any outside interference, especially by the government, when there is a separate body called CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) for that.
