Smt. S. B. Gardi

Department of English

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Prepared by- Urvi DaveCourse- MA- IISemester- 4Course No.- 15Paper Name- Mass Media and CommunicationBatch Year- 2014-16Enrolment no.- 14101009email id- dave.urvi71@gmail.com

Censorship and its significance in Films

 “Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself.” - Potter

Stewart  

Supervision and control of the information and ideas that are circulated among the people within a society is Censorship. In modern times, Censorship refers to the examination of books, films, television and radio programmes, news reports and other communication media for the purpose of altering or suppressing parts thought to be objectionable or offensive.

In its broadest sense, Censorship refers to suppression of information, ideas or artistic expression by anyone, whether government officials, church authorities, private pressure themselves. In its narrower, more legalistic sense, censorship means only the prevention by official government action of the circulation of messages already produced. Thus, writers who ‘censor’ themselves before putting words on paper, for fear of failing to sell their work, are not engaging in censorship in this narrower sense, nor are those who boycott sponsors of disliked television shows. Yet all of these restraints have the effect of limiting the diversity that would otherwise be available in the marketplace of ideas and so may be considered.

Film Censorship: A brief history Film Censorship was set in motion in India when the Cinematograph Act of 1918 was made law from May 1920.

Censor Boards were set up in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Rangoon and Lahore. All members of the Borders were appointed by the Government.

In October 1927 an Indian Cinematograph Committee was appointed with an Indian, T. Rangachariar, as Chairman.

In 1969, the Khosla Commission was appointed to report on the whole film industry. It recommended an autonomous Censor Board without any official government control the examination of a film as a whole and to allow kissing, nudity and violence, if they were integral to the theme.

The whims of the I and B Ministry decided which films should be given ‘A’ of ‘U’ Certificates. Political satires like Kissa Kursi Ka were banned.  K. A. Abbas challenged the censorship of films in general and pre- censorship in particular in the Supreme Court in November 1969.

How Films are Censored The examining committee consists of a member from the Advisory Panel and an examining officer in the case of short film, while in the case of a feature film, four members from the Advisory Panel and an examining offer. This film to be examined must be complete in every sense, with the background music and all sound effects duly recorded on the film itself.

Under the Amendment Act, 1983, all previews of films for the purpose of certification and the reports and record related to it, will be treated as confidential

If for any reason, the members of committees felt that any particular portion for film has to be cut, there could not be any ‘confidentiality’ about these opinions especially when the privilege was not claimed on the ground of public interest.

A film is judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impact and is examined in the light of the period depicted in the film and the contemporary standards of the country and the people to whom the film relates, provided that the film does not deprave the morality of the audience.

Objectives-1) The medium of film remains

responsible and sensitive to the values and standards of society.

2) artistic expression and creative freedom are not unduly curbed.

3) Certification is responsible for social changes.

4) The medium of film provides clean and healthy entertainment.

Types of Censorships-1) Official/State Censorship- Defence advisory

notices are displayed, imposed by the Government.

2) Legislative Censorship- DVDs are classified as suitable to be shown in the home. Created to protect children from bad language and imagery.

3) Voluntary Censorship- British board of Film Censors established which brought in the watershed of no graphic content before 9 PM.

4) Self Censorship- Programme makers or journalists censor themselves to comply with social pressure.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)    The Central Board of Film Censors is set up by the Central Government under the powers granted it by the Cinematograph Act and the Cinematograph Rules 1958. The Board is headed by a chairman, appointed by the Central Government and is assisted to 12- 35 members.

Detailed Guidelines for certification:Ø Anti-social activities such as violence are not glorified or justified.Ø Scenes which have the effect of justifying or glorifying drinking are shown.Ø Human sensibilities are not offended by vulgarity, obscenity or depravity.Ø Such dual meaning words as obviously cater to baser instincts are not allowed.Ø Scenes degrading or denigrating women in any manner are not presented.Ø Visual or words contemptuous of racial, religious or other groups are not presented.Ø The sovereignty and integrity or India is not called in question.Ø The security of the State is not jeopardized or endangered.Ø Friendly relations with foreign state are not strained.Ø Public order is not engaged.

 Advisory Panels: Advisory Panels are constituted at each regional office by the Central Government which also decides, in consultation with the CBFC, the number of panel members for each office. The members are appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the CBFC.

What is a film?A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still images, which, when shown on a screen, creates the illusion of moving images due to the Phi Phenomenon. A film is created by photographing actual scenes with a motion picture camera.

History of Films-o The history of film began in the 1890s, with the invention of the first motion- picture cameras and the establishment of first film production companies and cinemas. The first film of the 1890s were under a minute long and until 1927, motion pictures were produced without sound. The first rotation camera was introduced in 1897.

o By 1914, continuity cinema was the established mode of commercial cinema. During the 1960s, the studio system in Hollywood declined. Graphic images of bloody death and gunfights were first seen in 1970s.

o The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic cultures of Indian states. Cinema as a medium gained popularity in the country and as many as 1000 films in various languages of India are produced annually.

o Dadasaheb Phalke is the father of Indian cinema. Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for life time contribution to cinema, was instituted in his honor, by the Government of India in 1969, and is the most prestigious and coveted award in Indian cinema.

Necessity in Films- Film censorship becomes necessary because a film motivates thought and action assures a high degree of attention and retention as compared to the printed word. The combination of act and speech, sight and sound in semi darkness of the theatre with elimination of all distracting ideas will have a strong impact on the minds of the viewers and can affect emotions, therefore it has as much potential for evil as it has as equal potential to instil or cultivate violent or bad behaviour. It cannot be equated with other modes of communication. Censorship by prior restraint is therefore not only desirable but also necessary.

Example-  In 2002, the film War and Peace depicts scenes of nuclear testing and the September 11, 2001 attacks, created by Anand Patwardhan was asked to cut but the count decreed the cuts unconstitutional and the film was shown uncut. In 2006, seven states of India had banned the release or exhibition of the Hollywood movie The Da Vinci Code including the text. However, high courts later on lifted the ban and the movie was shown later on in two states.

Fifty Shades of Grey- film was not given a rating by the censor board, even after voluntary cuts by the distributor.

MSG- 2 The Messenger film was banned in Chhattisgarh for hurting sentiments of Adivasi community.

Conclusion:                      Not only the movies but Music, Drama, Maps, Books, Regional films, Documentaries, which hurt the feeling of the people are banned or censored. A film with distorted history, tradition or culture that is feared to create controversy are harm to the national integrity.                     

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