For other uses, see CBFC. The Central Board of Film Certification ( Popularly known as Censor Board ) is a government of India regulatory body and censorship board of India controlled by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It reviews, rates and censors movies, television shows, television ads, and promotional material. According to the Supreme Court of India: | “ | Film censorship becomes necessary because a film motivates thought and action and assures a high degree of attention and retention as compared to the printed word. The combination of act and speech, sight and sound in semi darkness of the theatre with elimination of all distracting ideas will have a strong impact on the minds of the viewers and can affect emotions. Therefore, it has as much potential for evil as it has for good and has an equal potential to instill or cultivate violent or good behaviour. It cannot be equated with other modes of communication. Censorship by prior restraint is, therefore, not only desirable but also necessary | ” | . [edit] Rating System The rating system of Films is as follows: - U : Unrestricted Public Exhibition: This rating is given to films suitable for 'family viewing'.It should not disturb even the youngest of children. A movie with 'U' rating contains no or mild violence and sensuality.
- This rating is similar to G of the MPAA.
- U/A : Unrestricted Public Exhibition but with parental guidance for children below 12 years. This rating is given to a movie which contains mild violence, language and sensuality. The movie may contain some material that is unsuitable for children under 12. However such an act is a penal offence under the Laws of India.
- A : Adults: 'A' Films are meant for Adult audience above 18 years only. This rating is given to a movie which contains heavy dose of violence, sexuality, frightening images and language.
- This rating is similar to R of the MPAA;
- S : Specialised Audience: This rating is given very rarely and signifies that the film is meant for specialised audience such as Doctors.
- No rating: Several films do not receive a rating, indicating they are disallowed from public screening.
[edit] Critical Analysis - CBFC has been several times criticised for taking a lenient view in allowing explicit scenes of violence and vulgarity while censoring films. On the other hand, the CBFC has also been criticized for decades for being heavy-handed in unnecessarily censoring content; some argue that the CBFC and the Indian rating system are redundant and constitute a form of moral censorship or big-brother-hood.
- The Film Rating system of CBFC categorising films into 'U', 'UA', 'A', 'S' is not only simplistic but also primitive. Except for the letters such as 'A', 'U' etc. there is no audience-friendy system of film ratings in the form of 'icons' of different colours indicating different age groups.
- Before screening of the film, only the original Censor certificate is displayed in which except for the 'certified title'('A', 'U' etc.)nothing else can be read by the audience.
- It is ironical that the vital details of Censor Caution such as 'interpretation of certified title', 'suitable age group', 'name of the film' etc. appear in a very small font that no body can read them on the screen. This practice of showing Censor Certificate (instead of easily-recognisable colour icons with age group) dates back to 1950's and is still continued without any modifications.
- While the CBFC certifies hundreds of films in Indian regional languages( e.g., Telugu, Tamil, Bengali etc.), the contents of Censor Certificate/Caution are in English and Hindi only. Hence, except educated sections, ordinary viewers in India don't know much about CBFC ratings.
- Till recently, CBFC has no full-fledged website. The one which has been operationalised recently ( www.cbfcindia.gov.in ) also doesn't work properly. The website is not updated regularly so that audience can know about the newly-certified films they wish to watch.
- The Film ratings of CBFC are not prominently indicated in the film publicity material such as posters, handbills etc. and advertisements in print media etc. though the law provides for the same.
- Now-a-days, Television and Internet are the major media through which film publicity reaches millions of audience through advertisements, film-based programmes, Local Film listings, exclusive websites on new films etc. But, there is no legal stipulation that Film publicity through electronic media should indicate/display CBFC rating. This lacuna questions the very utility and relevance of CBFC and its ratings.
- CBFC doesn't have any enforcement mechanism of its own to deal with violations such as illegal interpolations, non-indication of certified title in advertisements etc. and has to depend on local police.
- In 2006, consequent to Bombay High Court Order, the Ministry of I&B issued a notification dated 2 August 2006 (http://www.mib.nic.in/ShowContent.aspx?uid1=7&uid2=49&uid3=0&uid4=0&uid5=0&uid6=0&uid7=0) by which no film, film promo, film trailer, film song, music video, music album or their promos should be carried in TV channels unless they are certified by CBFC as suitable for unrestricted public exhibition ('U'). Hence,at present, adult content is virtually banned on Indian Television irrespective of timings.
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