The Cinematograph Act of 1952, which governs the Indian film industry, may be amended soon to include the changes proposed by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Leela Samson.
Addressing a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) seminar on cinema certification in Mumbai, Samson pointed out that the CBFC should be renamed as the Indian Board of Film Certification (IBFC) and should be regarded as a ‘classification’ council more than a ‘certification’ board.
?I propose to the government to make some amendments in the age-old Cinematograph Act, which regulates the industry. The term ‘central’ in CBFC holds no relevance internationally and should be replaced with ‘Indian’, because it is the Indian film fraternity that we represent. We also intend to move from certification of films to their classification as well, such that films cater to their target consumers in a more specific manner. More categories will be included in the certification system,? she said.
Samson also suggested a logo change for CBFC, which is looked at negatively by film-makers, owing to the board’s strict regulations on film content. She said, ?CBFC should not be loosely referred to as the censor board. We are more willing to allow content than censor it. A change in logo and a new branding of the entity is welcome.? She added that the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad was redesigning the CBFC logo.
Samson further proposed a ?new fee structure and certification guidelines? for documentary film-makers who operate at very low budgets as compared to feature film-makers.
Samson’s proposals were welcomed by members of the fraternity. Eminent documentary film-maker Anand Patwardhan said, ?Most documentary film-makers are very poor and cannot afford to make rounds of the CBFC office and pay it hefty amounts to obtain a censor certificate. A change of regulations is necessary for them.?
CBFC also inaugurated its online application system that allows film-makers to check their film’s censorship status through the internet and also puts all certification-related information on the CBFC website for public perusal. The system was launched by Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who said, ?The film industry is a soft power for the country. It is slowly going digital and CBFC’s online application system is a step in that direction.? He also urged leading film personalities to run short film appreciation courses in the state ?that will educate audiences about the medium? and enable them to accept the art better.