Certify, don't censor

Reform of film certification overdue

Even by the standards of the Central Board of Film Certification, or CBFC, the cuts imposed on Anurag Kashyap's movie Udta Punjab appear excessive. The CBFC asked for 13 changes, but those changes - such as the excision of the word "Punjab", or of other place names - lead to a total of 89 cuts in the movie, according to Mr Kashyap. Some of the cuts are straightforward - a demand that all swear words be removed, for example. Others are more puzzling, such as the objection to a dog being named "Jackie Chain". Most problematic perhaps is the insistence that every instance of the words "election, MP, party worker, MLA, Punjab and Parliament" be removed, and a disclaimer, both visual and read aloud, be added that includes the phrase "we acknowledge the battle against drugs being fought by the government and the police".

The principles in this case should be clear. It is plain that the CBFC's job is to examine a film and then to certify it so that cinema-goers can then decide whether or not they want to watch it. This was the spirit underlying the report of a committee headed by Shyam Benegal on the reform of the CBFC. Its interim report, submitted to Information & Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on April 26, suggested that the scope of the CBFC "be restricted to categorising the suitability of the film to audience groups on the basis of age and maturity". But, under the CBFC's current chairman, Pahlaj Nihalani - appointed by the National Democratic Alliance government, the board has in fact moved in the opposite direction. Ironically, his own movies have hardly been models of good taste.

Perhaps his most important qualification is that he is a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Given Mr Nihalani's openness with respect to his political motivations, it is unsurprising that the question of cuts in Udta Punjab, which should be simple, has taken an overtly political turn. After all, assembly elections are approaching in that state, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party is in power, in coalition with the Shiromani Akali Dal. The movie is about the drug problem in Punjab; and that is one of the major issues in the election campaign. It is hard to see the CBFC's attitude to Udta Punjab, given this context, as being completely divorced from the politics of the state.

While it is promising that the makers of this film, and others in the movie industry, have spoken up against the CBFC's over-reach, it is also true that Mr Kashyap has not covered himself with glory. There is nothing wrong with making a political film. Mr Kashyap himself has made them in the past; he should own the fact that this one is, too. Indians have every right to make and watch films which have an overt political message, as long as they do not provoke violence.

It is fortunate thus that Mr Jaitley, speaking on Friday, promised "some very radical changes" to the way in which the CBFC operates. "Certification norms will have to be liberal", he said, which is exactly the right line to take. He also pointed out that there is a tribunal which can overrule the CBFC's decision. The Bombay High Court is also examining the matter, and has already reminded CBFC that its primary job is to certify films. While hopefully this intervention will allow Udta Punjab to be released as the film-makers intended, Mr Jaitley should be held to his promise to change the entire institutional structure of certification so that such problems do not recur.