Battle for free expression
Certificate has been granted to the film ‘Indu Sarkar’, a film directed
by Madhur Bhandarkar. Freedom of expression cannot be curtailed without a valid
reason. The film is nothing
but artistic expression within the parameters of law. There is no warrant or
justification to curtail it. The
film relates to events set during the 1975-77 Emergency. Its factual content is
limited to 30%.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) does not always see itself
as a certifying authority, but rather plays the censor quite merrily. The
Bombay High Court had to remind the CBFC that certification, and not
censorship, is its primary role and that its power to order changes and cuts
must be exercised in accordance with constitutional principles. Sometimes the CBFC seeks to play the moral
censor. It is good that the courts prefer to protect the right to free
expression rather than entertain flimsy excuses.
It is disconcerting that one has to fight for the freedom for free
expression these days quite often. But the way forward for today's society need
some revamping of CBFC according to modern outlook and needs. In the world of
internet everything (true or false) is easily available in the public domain. CBFC
needs some overhauling or complete renovation to prevent future cases where freedom
of expression is denied or where someone's sentiments are hurt. Today a lot of
ruckus is created to get some limelight and TRP in the name of Censorship.
Largely the average Indian movie goer does not care about the
certification provided by the CBFC, since content which the user likes is
available at his finger tips which is a click away. Movie should be only
certified, censorship must be limited to contents which will disturb the
harmony of the society or that could motivate a person to choose a path which
is detrimental not only to himself but his surrounding.
For genres like documentary or real life based movies, the certification
board should provide guidelines to analysis and validate the content before
releasing such movies, these data should be freely available to the public for
all future references. When a movie is based on a fiction, the filmmaker should
get every right to experiment with his creativity.
Rights are being attacked consistently these days, specially speech and expression.
Tolerance has become a rarity and any opposite view is being met with hate and
aggressive disapproval. But freedom of expression is far better in India than
in many other countries in the world. It is true that most of the filmmakers
these days mix more unnecessary spices to sell the films and later cry for
freedom of expression.
It is true that constitution gives power of freedom to all Its citizen.
Making spicy movies is also a sort of free speech, innovation and progress lies
in it. Regulating free expression will kill innovation. Censorship on films should not be
detrimental to the freedom of expression. It is the duty of the Censor Board to
see that the films must be taken within the ambit of the guidelines given by
the Censor Board. Giving unwarranted cuts and blocking the films on flimsy
reasons are common now a days and it is without understanding the pain of the
producers spending crores on the film. At the same time producers must produce
films not hurting the interest and sentiments of celebrities and people just
for commercialising the film and filling up their coffer.
With the changing times attitudes towards censorship too need to change.
While films which are mass media are often subjected to rigorous examination
for morality and obscenity much of the media on TV or You Tube go scot free without
any censorship providing the makers license to indulge in the most vilest form
of social behaviour which set bad examples to society who are addicted to them.
Self regulation is the way forward as well as some kind of self control on artistic
expression as Life tends to imitate Art as well as Vice Versa.
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