Is the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) keeping pace with the changing celluloid world? Or is it stuck in the archaic Cinematograph Act 1952? This is the question being posed by creative film makers after Gaali Beeja — a meta-narrative in the road-movie genre — was not certified by the Bengaluru regional office of the CBFC.

Gaali Beeja is the debut creation of noted artist Babu Eshwar Prasad, who experiments through pure visuals. In fact, Gaali Beeja was one of the eight feature films in the country recommended by Film Bazaar in the recently-concluded Goa international film festival.

Noted film makers such as Girish Kasaravalli are shocked by the decision of the CBFC, and are questioning the yardstick being adopted to grade and certify a film. According to Mr. Kasaravalli, “ Gaali Beeja is an experiment with a difference”.

While the CBFC is attributing the “technical” standards stipulated in the “un-amended” Cinematograph Act 1952 for denial of certificate, Mr. Prasad and other film makers making experimental films are upset with the board’s inability to respond to the experiments in the celluloid medium which is growing by leaps and bounds.

Nagendra Swamy, Regional Officer of the CBFC, told The Hindu that the board rejected the film as the committee could not decide whether Gaali Beeja was a documentary or a feature film, and that the film lacks technical polish and does not easily relate to characters.

Expressing regret over the decision, Mr. Prasad said committee members are tuned to certain kinds of films in a set format, and “I think it has become difficult for them to understand narrations with pure visuals”.

Though Mr. Nagendra Swamy advised the film maker to approach the revising committee, Mr. Prasad, who was hurt by the development, sought to know the reason for the rejection, while films ridden with violence are getting the U/A certificate.