THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Regional Censor Board is at a loss to comprehend why Malayalam filmmakers have kicked up a storm over issues related to the censoring of films.
"We just go by the Indian Cinematograph Act and the guidelines laid down there. There is nothing arbitrary about our decisions," said regional Censor Board chief Pratibha, an IAS officer. According to her, the filmmakers are either trying to mislead the public or are genuinely confused about the law.
The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) was especially concerned about the stipulation that enjoins upon a filmmaker to carry a statutory warning whenever someone in a film is shown smoking or drinking. "We insist on such a stipulation for smoking, not for drinking liquor," Ms Pratibha said.
For the depiction of smoking, the Board ensures two things. One, a 20-second anti-smoking message as approved by the Ministry of Health, with the voice-over of one of the actors who is seen smoking in the film, at the beginning and post-interval. Two, a static anti-smoking warning for the duration of the smoking scene in the film.
"We also insist that the statutory warning that comes at the base of the screen during a smoking scene should be visible, not there just for the sake of it," the regional censor chief said.
As for drinking, it is only necessary to provide a general disclaimer at the beginning of the film. Same is the case with make-believe animals in a film. FEFKA general secretary Unnikrishnan B charged that the Board insisted on putting up a reminder on the screen every time a computer-generated animal comes on screen. "I don't know from where they got such ideas," Pratibha said.
Double standards was the other charge. "Such warnings are not present during the smoking or drinking scenes in Bollywood movies that release here," Unnikrishnan said. "If these films don't show these warnings we are helpless.”
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