Foolish to think censor board is still relevant: RGV on Jana Nayagan row
The Indian film industry has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding the upcoming Tamil film, Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has refused to grant the film a censor certificate, citing certain objections. This has sparked a heated debate about the relevance and role of the censor board in today’s digital age. Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has weighed in on the issue, stating that it is “foolish to think that the censor board is still relevant today.”
Varma’s comments come at a time when the film industry is grappling with the challenges of censorship and the changing landscape of media consumption. With the rise of digital platforms and social media, the traditional models of censorship are being increasingly questioned. The CBFC, which was established in 1952, has been criticized for being outdated and out of touch with the changing times.
According to Varma, the censor board was born in an era when the state controlled the media, and there was a need for regulation. However, with the advent of technology and the proliferation of digital platforms, any form of control is now impossible. “The censor board was relevant in an era when the state controlled the media, but today, with the internet and social media, it is impossible to control what people watch or consume,” he said.
Varma also blamed the film industry for allowing the CBFC to exist for so long. He argued that the industry has been complicit in perpetuating the censor board’s authority, despite knowing that it is no longer relevant. “It’s foolish to think that the censor board is still relevant today. The film industry has allowed the CBFC to exist for so long, and it’s time for us to take responsibility for our own content,” he said.
The controversy surrounding Jana Nayagan has brought the issue of censorship to the forefront. The film, which is a political thriller, has been refused a censor certificate due to certain objections raised by the CBFC. The board has cited scenes and dialogue that are deemed to be objectionable, and the film’s makers have been asked to make changes before it can be certified.
The refusal to grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan has sparked a debate about the role of the censor board in regulating content. While some argue that the board is necessary to protect audiences from objectionable content, others see it as an outdated institution that stifles creativity and freedom of expression.
Varma’s comments have sparked a heated debate on social media, with many agreeing that the censor board is indeed outdated. Some have argued that the board’s attempts to regulate content are futile in the digital age, where anyone can access any kind of content online. Others have pointed out that the board’s guidelines are often arbitrary and subjective, and that they can be used to silence dissenting voices.
The issue of censorship is not limited to the film industry alone. It has implications for freedom of expression and the creative arts as a whole. In an era where social media and digital platforms have democratized content creation and consumption, the need for a censor board is increasingly being questioned.
As Varma pointed out, the censor board insults viewers by assuming that they are not capable of making their own decisions about what they want to watch. “The censor board insults the intelligence of the audience by assuming that they are not mature enough to watch certain content. It’s time for us to trust our audiences and give them the freedom to choose what they want to watch,” he said.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Jana Nayagan has highlighted the need for a rethink on the role of the censor board in the film industry. As Ram Gopal Varma has pointed out, it is foolish to think that the censor board is still relevant today. The film industry needs to take responsibility for its own content and trust its audiences to make their own decisions about what they want to watch. The censor board’s attempts to regulate content are not only outdated but also futile in the digital age.
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