A week after Pahlaj Nihalani was sacked from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), an online petition for all filmmakers and film lovers is currently doing the rounds on Change.org. Started by Utpal Borpujari, the petition is addressed to Union minister Smriti Z Irani requesting her to implement the Shyam Benegal Committee Report.
Although lauding Irani for bringing in ad man Prasoon Joshi as the new CBFC chief, the petition draws more attention on the “much-needed change” in CBFC.
The Shyam Benegal Committe Report was submitted on April 26 last year that laid down procedures and guidelines for the benefit of the CBFC board to follow and examine staffing patterns. The members of the committee were Kamal Haasan, Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Piyush Pandey, Goutam Ghose, Bhawana Somaaya, Nina Lath Gupta, MD, NFDC and K Sanjay Murthy, Joint Secretary (Films) as Member-Convenor.
Albeit submitted over a year ago, nothing has happened with respect to the report.
The petition calls out how the report is much-needed, hence it should be looked into soon.
Here’s an excerpt:
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“As we are all aware, the rules and regulations that govern the functioning and decision-making process of CBFC are quite outdated and need wide-ranging changes, as articulated by the Shyam Benegal Committee that comprised some of India’s topmost film personalities. The gap between the existing rules and regulations of CBFC and the realities of modern India got most-glaringly exhibited during the controversial tenure of the immediate past Chairman of CBFC, and quite naturally, everyone has welcomed the change of guard at the Board effected by your ministry.
Keeping this measure in mind, we are very sure that you would take the lead in getting the recommendations of the Shyam Benegal Committee implemented at the earliest possible date so that CBFC, as recommended by the Committee and true to its name, only certifies and does not censor films.”
Actors like Adil Hussain and Manoj Bajpayee are rallying for this petition.
Pl sign his PETITION requesting the Govt to Implement Shyam Benegal Committee Recommendations on Cinematography Act https://t.co/rAucTTSBcr
— Adil hussain (@_AdilHussain) August 16, 2017
Feature Image: Wikipedia