Times View

NEW DELHI: Restricting the scope of the Censor Board to “categorising“ films according to the audience's age and maturity, the Shyam Benegal panel has recommended that certification should be specific with new categories like adult with caution, UA12 and UA15. The panel submitted its report to I&B minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday. If adopted, this could change the film certification process and do away with the `censor board' nomenclature. This comes in the wake of Central Board of Film Certification chief Pahlaj Nihalani's controversial decisions. “We are recommending that CBFC should not be using scissors on any film,“ Benegal said.A significant recommendation is that the CBFC's scope be “restricted to categorising suitability of the film to audience groups on the basis of age and maturity". According to the recommendations of the Shy am Benegal panel, a certificate can only be denied if the film is against the sovereignty and integrity of the state; impacts friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality; involves defamation or contempt of court or is likely to incite the commission of any offence; or if the content crosses the ceiling laid down in the highest category of certification. The new categories recommended by the committee include UA12, for children above 12 years, UA15, for those above 15 years, besides universal and UA which is for parental guidance. The panel has suggested that the adult category be divided into adult and AC, that is adult with caution.The guidelines for certification have also been made more specific and divided into `general guidelines', `issue-related guidelines' and `category specific guidelines'. The panel has sought more time to deliberate on clearances required from the Animal Welfare Board under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the depiction of smoking that requires a disclaimer.The Benegal committee has also suggested online submission of applications and simplification of forms and documentation. Re-certification of a film for television has also been permitted.The I&B ministry will consult other ministries before finalising them.The proposal to replace censorship with certification except for a very limited number of issues like fomenting communal strife makes sense. This is exactly how most modern societies deal with the issue and it is time we moved to global best practices. The certification serves as a guide to audiences, or in the case of children their parents, and that's all that is really needed. Certification rather than censorship fosters creativity in films, which is always desirable.