Laws are made for the people and no civilised society can function without its own sets of laws and regulations. Just like the Supreme Court, High Courts, SEBI, TRAI and so many other bodies that function as interpreters, enforcers or regulatory/supervisory bodies, so also entities like the Central Board of Film Certification cannot be wished away.
It definitely has a role to play, and there cannot be a free-for-all in any sphere, especially in a country as disobedient as India, even in the world of entertainment. However, it is also common knowledge that not many in the film and TV industry are happy at the way this Board effected cuts on films given to it for certification throughout the past. Such controls seem to have worsened in recent times.
There often are allegations that the Board exceeded its brief — and demands have been made to the effect that it should limit itself to giving certifications and avoid doing any cuts at all. The issue snowballed in relation to the new Bombay Hindi movie ‘Udta Punjab’ (Flying Punjab) and climbed the High Court’s steps, leading to a judicial reprimand to the Board — that it should not conduct itself like a “grandmother”. The court has ordered the board to give its nod to the movie in 48 hours’ time by effecting just one cut — instead of the 90 or so the board had originally recommended.
Clearly, regional sentiments aggravated the issue in relation to ‘Udta Punjab’ and the Board stood by the view that the film defamed the state and its people — by projections like it being a barren land, its people wayward, promiscuous and drug-prone. The cuss words that were liberally used in the film also went against its clearance. The court took the view that these were not all that serious issues, but a scene in which the lead actor urinates in front of a crowd was considered vulgar in nature and needed to be cut.
The issue gained more seriousness and sensitivity as Punjab is heading for assembly elections in a matter of few months. By invoking the grandma imagery, the court has made it abundantly clear that it is time the Board changed and evolved with the changing times. It cannot sit on judgment over matters with a 20th century mindset.
No doubt the 21st century is vastly different from what was past, with a new world opening up, driven as it is by the internet, satellite television channels and apps that offered everything on your mobile hand held device. This is the time to enlarge the scope for more freedom to individuals, and easier access for them to new learning, opportunities and facilities.
Looking at things logically, it is difficult to say who is to decide on what’s good and what’s not, and how can individuals under the garb of institutions sit in judgment over matters that could easily be beyond their realm of consciousness. This is more so in issues involving creativity and innovations. India might have its claim to rich culture and customs that go with them, but it is also important that they do not stand in the way of social well-being, and do stand the test of time.
Despite the talk of rich traditions, what unfolds before us day in and day out in this country are horrendous scenes — of gang rapes, caste conflicts, child abuse, bride burning, dowry killings, honour killings, and killings of the Dadri and Dhabolkar kinds. All these may not be termed simply as creations of the media as such; the media is only holding a mirror on the society, focusing public attention on the ills vibrating deep within. Not to be ignored are the widening disparities in economic and social life that this tradition and culture-rich society abundantly encourages. A functional society cannot project such scenarios.
Our customs and traditions, its good sides apart, are seen also to have a vicious influence on this society. In fact, India’s culture is seemingly cracking under the unbearable load of the times as there seems to be no ‘standardised’ culture that spans and can satisfy the citizenry across the length and breadth of this vast subcontinent. In this background, a Censor Board or any other institution in this country sitting on judgment over matters by swearing itself to the land’s culture and traditions would look highly out of place. With all the systems and institutions around, the imperfections in the society are all too obvious to the bare eye.
Our society has got stuck at a certain stage. With changing times, attitudes will have to change. That goes for the Censor Board as well. It should take a serious note of serious matters — like blocking efforts at disturbing communal harmony, promoting and displaying vulgarity. It should go easy on the rest. What the court has ordered in the case of Udta Punjab is welcome.
The biggest surprise, however, is that the main charges against the film came from none other than Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani. A reputed film personality with three decades of work in the entertainment industry behind him, his leadership of the Board since last year has seen a tightening of the controls; rather than he being the champion with a mind to reform, liberal thought and modern outlook.
Unfortunately for Nihalani, censorship is not the only controversy he has been embroiled in. In 2015, he made a seven-minute video on Prime Minister Narendra Damodardass Modi titled ‘Mera desh hai mahaan, mera desh hai jawan’, which was reportedly screened in several cinema halls during the interval. Nihalani drew flak on two counts. First, for making such a clip and having it shown mandatorily in cinema halls; second, for using visuals such as the Tour De France, the Dubai Expressway and Moscow’s International Business Centre as supposed glimpses in the clip.
He as an individual seems to be the saddest part.
