Pak too close for comfort, Censors want new name
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In the midst of the simmering tension between India and Pakistan, the Censor Board has sought to distance itself from neighbour Pakistan's film board. It wants a new name, 'Indian Board for Film Certification'.
Both Indian and Pakistani film censor boards are currently known as the CBFC — 'Central Board of Film Certification' in India and 'Central Board of Film Censors' in Pakistan. "This creates a lot of confusion on international platforms especially at film festivals," said Leela Samson, chairperson of the Indian film board.
Hence the CBFC's request to the government to change its name. "This is a straight nomenclature that leaves no room for doubt," she said.
The CBFC also wants to shed the perception of being a "censor" board, to be seen more as the "certification" board. "In today's day and time, censoring films doesn't make sense. Unless there are some gross violations such as a constitutional violation or something that hurts communal or religious sentiments, we will not recommend the use of scissors. Instead, we will only certify the films as adult or ones that should be viewed with care," said Samson.
Alongside this, the board wants the government to initiate a campaign to educate viewers on film certification. "It is a tragedy that... we continue to use English letters to denote whether a film is adult or fit for universal viewing... Most film goers don't even know what 'A' or 'U' stands for," said Samson.
The CBFC wants certification to be denoted in regional languages apart from using conspicuous pictorial signs or illustrations to inform a viewer if a film has scenes of extreme violence or sex and if it is suitable for children.
Besides the board has asked the government to create more categories of certification. "Today's teenagers are far more evolved and clued into the world around them," said Pankaja Thakur, CEO, CBFC. A new category for children between the ages of 10 and 15 years is one such idea being considered.
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