The Shyam Benegal Committee, set up by the Centre to look into the functioning of the Censor Board, has recommended that the Censor Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) role should be restricted to categorising the suitability of films to various audience groups based on age and maturity.

The committee submitted its report to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday. It has given recommendations on areas related to film certification and its simplification, and restructuring of the staffing pattern of Central and regional advisory panels, among others. According to an official statement, certification guidelines should allow the audience to make informed viewing decisions and ensure artistic expression and creative freedom are not unduly curbed.

The committee has said that the CBFC should refuse certification when a film contains anything that contravenes with the Cinematograph Act, or if the content of the film crosses the ceiling laid down in the highest category of certification.

The committee is also batting for more specific categorisation of films – like the UA category should be broken in further sub-categories meant for age group 12 and above, and age groups 15 and above.

On functioning, the committee has said that the Board, including the Chairman, should only play a role in the guiding mechanism for films.

“The functions of the Board shall be confined to the duties defined in the existing CBFC rules, which inter alia include an annual review of CBFC work, submission of annual report to the government, review of public reactions to films, and periodic recommendations for revision of guidelines,” the committee report said.

The Committee has not yet commented on smoking disclaimers and animal cruelty.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW