Foolish to think censor board is still relevant: RGV on Jana Nayagan row
The Indian film industry has been embroiled in a heated debate over the relevance of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), also known as the censor board. The controversy surrounding Vijay’s latest film, Jana Nayagan, not getting a censor certificate from the CBFC has sparked a fresh wave of discussion on the role of the censor board in today’s digital age. Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has weighed in on the issue, stating that it’s “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 in the digital era. With the rise of social media and online streaming platforms, the traditional model of censorship has become increasingly outdated. The CBFC, which was established in 1952, was designed to regulate the content of films in India, ensuring that they conform to certain standards of decency and morality. However, with the advent of new technologies and changing social norms, the censor board’s role has become increasingly anachronistic.
According to Varma, the censor board was born in an era when the state controlled the media, and the government had the power to dictate what content was suitable for public consumption. However, with the proliferation of social media and online 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’s impossible to control what people watch or consume,” Varma said.
Varma also blamed the film industry for allowing the CBFC to exist for so long. “The film industry has been complicit in the censor board’s existence, and it’s high time we recognize that it’s no longer relevant,” he said. The filmmaker argued that the censor board’s attempts to regulate content are not only futile but also insulting to viewers. “The censor board insults the intelligence of the viewer, assuming that they are not capable of making their own decisions about what they want to watch,” Varma said.
The controversy surrounding Jana Nayagan has highlighted the arbitrary nature of the censor board’s decisions. The film, which is a political thriller, has been denied a censor certificate due to its allegedly sensitive content. However, many have argued that the censor board’s decision is motivated by political considerations rather than a genuine concern for public morality.
The issue of censorship is not limited to the film industry; it has far-reaching implications for freedom of expression and creative liberty. The censor board’s attempts to regulate content can have a chilling effect on artists and creators, who may self-censor their work to avoid running afoul of the authorities. This can lead to a stifling of innovation and creativity, as artists are forced to conform to narrow and outdated standards of decency and morality.
In recent years, there have been several instances of the censor board’s decisions being challenged in court. In 2015, the Supreme Court struck down a notification that had banned the screening of a documentary on the December 16 gang rape case, citing freedom of expression. Similarly, in 2019, the Bombay High Court stayed the CBFC’s decision to cut certain scenes from a film, observing that the board’s decisions should be “reasonable and not arbitrary.”
The debate over the relevance of the censor board is not new, but it has gained fresh momentum in recent years. With the rise of online streaming platforms, the traditional model of censorship has become increasingly obsolete. Many have argued that the censor board should be abolished, and that filmmakers should be free to create content without fear of censorship or reprisal.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Jana Nayagan has highlighted the need for a rethink on the role of the censor board in today’s digital age. As Ram Gopal Varma has pointed out, it’s foolish to think that the censor board is still relevant today. The film industry must recognize that the censor board’s attempts to regulate content are not only futile but also insulting to viewers. It’s time for the industry to come together and demand greater creative liberty and freedom of expression.
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