'Guidelines to stop scenes glorifying drug use besides others'

The Centre today told Delhi High Court that there are guidelines to prohibit scenes in movies which have the effect of justifying or glorifying drinking, drug addiction besides degrading women in any manner.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was also informed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that the film is judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impact.
The ministry's response came to the court notice issued to it while hearing a PIL seeking an immediate ban on songs that promote use of drugs and alcohol.
The PIL has been filed by two advocates who sought a direction to the ministry to ban two songs 'Chaar botal vodka' (Four bottles of vodka) and 'Main alcoholic hoon' (I'm alcoholic) from playing or public display and similar other numbers.

"The guidelines prohibit scenes which have the effect of justifying or glorifying drinking, scenes tending to encourage, justify or glamourize drug addiction, scenes tending to encourage, justify or glamourize consumption of tobacco or smoking and scenes degrading or denigrating women in any manner and dual meaning words obviously cater to baser instincts.
"However, while considering the above directions, the Central Board of Film Certification shall ensure that the film is judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impact and the film is examined in the light of the period depicted in the film and the contemporary standards of the country and the people to which the film relates," the ministry said in its reply filed through its counsel Monika Arora.

The PIL has also alleged that such songs not only justify drinking but also suggest that consumption is "good".
The ministry, however, said that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certifies a film or its content for different categories of viewers from child to adult.