Film certification process is punishment, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The film Jana Nayagan is facing release delays due to the CBFC withholding its certificate despite the examining committee's recommendation.
• The Cinematograph Act of 1952 empowers the CBFC to classify films, but ambiguities in the act have led to a censorship regime.
• The abolition of the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) in 2021 has limited filmmakers' options for redressal.
• The Madras High Court will hear the Jana Nayagan case on January 20, after the Supreme Court refused to intervene.

Detailed Insights:

• The Cinematograph Act's vague terms like "public order" and "morality" are often used to demand arbitrary cuts in films.
• Since 2021, filmmakers disagreeing with the CBFC have had to appeal to High Courts due to the FCAT's abolishment.
• Committees led by Justice Mukul Mudgal and Shyam Benegal have suggested reforms to the film certification process, which have not been implemented.
• Delays in film certification put livelihoods at risk and increase the financial burden on filmmakers.

Key Concepts Involved:

• CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification): A statutory body that regulates the public exhibition of films in India.
• Cinematograph Act of 1952: Legislation that empowers the CBFC to examine and certify films for public exhibition.
• FCAT (Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal): A now-abolished tribunal that heard appeals from filmmakers against decisions of the CBFC.