Subtle censorship more prominent in India: Actor Shahnaab Alam

Actor-producer Shahnaab Alam on Saturday said "subtle censorship" is more prominent in India instead of the legal one, and that people's sentiments are getting hurt more easily due to films than in the past.

The filmmaker also batted for complete elimination of the censorship process and advocated the rating system like in the US and some European countries.

"There are two kinds of censorships in India -- one is the legalised one. But, there is a whole lot of subtle censorship in India. Many sections do not agree and we have backlashes. There is no law and order support," Alam said.

Participating in a discussion in the ongoing 2nd Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF), the filmmaker said this subtle censorship is more profound and prominent.

"Different people are getting hurt easily compared to the past... My personal view is that there should not be any censorship at all. Only ratings should be there," he added.

Asked if the rise of "unofficial censorship" is in anyway linked to those in power and politics, Alam said everything is debatable.

"There is nothing us or them. It is we who chose the government. They are also us. It is a collective thing and we cannot blame any institution or any particular government," he said.

He, however, said things are slowly getting liberal in terms of censorship of movies in India.

Alam added that censorship remains only in Asian and African nations at present.

Cambodian filmmaker praCh Ly said there is strict censorship in his home country and no government support.

Ly, who is currently based in the US and a well-known rapper, said uninterrupted artistic freedom in Cambodia is still not a reality and people from the creative field are "punished" for any work critical of the government.

Estonian filmmaker Maie Rosmann-Lill said there is no censorship whatsoever in her nation and the government supports the fraternity and its creations.

The 2nd GIFF began with much fanfare on Thursday with a collection of 108 acclaimed films from 52 countries which is likely to attract nearly 5,000 domestic and foreign delegates in one week.

The ASEAN countries are the focus region of the 2nd GIFF with 14 films from 10 countries.

Apart from the ASEAN countries, films from the US, the UK, Spain, France, Argentina, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Iran and Banglades will also be screened.

The Assam Government-owned Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio) Society is the organiser of the festival, in association with Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute.

It will continue till October 31.