New Delhi: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has constituted a panel under noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal to give recommendations for restructuring of the Censor Board and suggesting changes in the Cinematograph act.
The move has the blessings of the Prime Minister and comes after I&B Minister hinted at the makeover of the board to make it controversy-free.
"I got a call from Ministry that they were creating a committee to look into the matters of film certification and wanted me to be a member. I siad yes. I don't know anything other than that. I will get to know on Monday. Don't want to comment on what has happened. Nothing can be achieved by applying a pair of siccors to a film. That won't solve the problem. Should see whether the guidelines are adequate or they need a re-look," Benegal said.
Apart from these, National Film Development Council MD Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy would also be part of committee.
A statement released on Friday said the panel has been formed "in sync with the vision" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The recommendations of this Committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework, the statement said.
The staffing pattern of CBFC would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework which would provide efficient, transparent user friendly services, the statement added.
Today's announcement came within days of Information & Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley telling media that the "time has come" to have a re-look at the functioning of Censor Board as he would like the Certification Board to be "controversy- free".
Filmmakers have complained of arbitrary objections and cuts sought by the Board in the recent past including the criticism for the cuts the latest James Bond movie 'Spectre' had to go through for its screening in India.
A list of banned "cuss" words, circulated by CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani had also become a subject of controversy.
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