Pahlaj Nihalani wants gag on CBFC members when movie is vetted

Suggestion Part Of Benegal Panel Report
If censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani has his way , there could be a gag order on all board members and filmmakers. Nihalani has sought amendments to the Cinematograph Act so that neither members of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), nor filmmakers can be allowed to air their opinions on a film under the board's examination.
'Members who examined the film should not offer their comments to producers nor discuss the film until it is released...Producers of a film refused certification by the examining committee or the revising committee and pending in Tribunal (Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal) should not be allowed to create media criticism or form opinions about the film,' the recommendations says.Nihalani has been at the receiving end ever since he took charge in January 2015. The latest censure has been over the film `Udta Punjab', where the CBFC suggested 89 cuts, including references to Punjab cities. Bollywood celebrities criticised the board and its functioning, specifically Nihalani's attempt to 'crush creativity' with many demanding his resignation.
Abhishek Chaubey on cuts in 'Udta Punjab': I felt completely destroyed
His recommendations for changes to the Cinematograph Act are part of the submissions of the Shyam Benegal panel report that was submitted to the I&B ministry. On the recommendations, CBFC board member Ashoke Pandit said, ' Are we under terrorism law like TADA or MCOCA that we can't make our opinion public? This is a democracy , how can one person dictate terms like this?" Among Nihalani's other suggestions include revising the ratings for film certification with the most explicit content being R and R21.
Restricted (R) category is legally restricted to adults and may have adult theme anti-social activities, violent drinking, horror, smoking scenes, sexual activity and kissing scenes while R21 is suitable for adults aged 21 and above. This may contain graphic violence, predominantly sexually explicit activity , violence and sex scenes, double meaning language and other disturbing content.
'Once certificate is issued in the categories R and R 21, ratings will not be permitted to change,' the recommendations say.
`Axing Nihalani will not solve problem'
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who had locked horns with Pahlaj Nihalani over the clearance of `Udta Punjab', on Tuesday said the censor board chief should be sacked but that alone would not solve the problem. Asked if replacing Nihalani would make a difference, Anurag said, 'It depends who comes in. I think replacing is not going to solve the problem." Meanwhile, the makers of `Udta Punjab' have decided to release the film worldwide on June 17.
Filmmakers move HC against censors
The makers of the feature film,`Kathakali', have approached the HC stating that the denial of certification on grounds of nudity and obscene words is a violation of the right to freedom of speech and expression. The petitioners, film director Saijo Kannanaikkal and Fefka directors union, alleged the central board of film certification wanted certain scenes and words to be excised before sanctioning the film for unrestricted public exhibition.
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