For persons with disabilities, doors to theatres now open, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Effective March 15, 2026, all new films released in India must include audio description for the visually impaired and same-language captions for the hearing impaired.
• This mandate is a result of Section 42 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act of 2017.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting released guidelines on March 15, 2024, mandating accessibility standards in cinemas.
• Accessibility is enabled through mobile technology, using apps that synchronize with the film's audio track to deliver audio descriptions and captions.

Detailed Insights:

• The RPwD Act of 2017 requires the government to ensure accessibility features like audio description and captions are included in electronic media.
• In 2023, a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court regarding the lack of accessibility features in the film Pathaan, leading to a directive to include these features and formulate industry guidelines.
• The Guidelines for Accessibility Standards mandate that all new films include audio description and same-language captions, with the requirement already in place for multilingual films and those seeking National Awards.
• OTT platforms have a longer compliance timeline for making content accessible, with new content required to be accessible in a phased manner, three years after the guidelines come into force.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Audio Description: Narration added to a film or TV show to describe what is happening on screen, for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
• Same-Language Captions: Textual representation of the dialogue and other auditory elements in a film, displayed in the same language as the audio.
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act: Indian legislation enacted in 2017 to protect and promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.