After much controversy over the Censor Board 's role, NDA appointed a committee headed by Shyam Benegal which submitted its report on Tuesday recommending new categories of certification and fewer cuts. “CBFC (Censor Board of Film Certification) should only be a film certification body whose scope should be restricted to categorising the suitability of the film to audience groups on the basis of age and maturity, except in the certain instances,“ the committee report revealed.

Certification can be refused if it contravenes the wide-ranging provisions of Section 5B (1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952:  “A film shall not be certified for public exhibition if, in the opinion of the authority competent to grant the certificate, the film or any part of it against the interests of 19 (the sovereignty and integrity of India) the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or involves defamation or contempt of court or is likely to incite the commission of any offence.“

The certification categories have been increased. The committee has suggested that apart from the 'U' category, the 'U/A' category can be broken up into further sub-categories ­ 'U/A 12+' and 'U/A 15+'. The A category should also be sub-divided into 'A' and 'AC' (Adult with Caution) categories.

And while the committee proposes limited cuts, it has also recommended that the uncut version of each film should be preserved. “In order to preserve Indian cinema, the committee recommends that every applicant be asked to deposit the Director's Cut in the NFAI for preservation of Indian cinema, instead of the certified version, in order to truly reflect the cinematic history of Indian cinema,“ says the report.

REACTIONS FROM THE FILM INDUSTRY

Hansal Mehta
I want to read all the recommendations made by the committee in detail. The government's willingness to do something will be seen once they act on the recommendations made. I am hoping that something substantial will be done. I have full faith in Shyamji and the committee.

Vikram Bhatt
The Shyam Benegal Committee has done what it can to suggest positive changes under the present Cinematograph Act. They don't have the mandate to change the Act itself, it is a not a law-making body. I think that Section 5B(1) of the Cinematograph Act is open to interpretation and till it is open to interpretation we can never have one vision of certification because the interpretation will keep changing. What is moral to me might be immoral to some, what is decent to me might be indecent to some. Till the decisions remain subjective, there will be no freedom from censorship.

Sanjay Gupta
This was long overdue. With Shyamji who is the most respected and senior most filmmaker in the industry nobody can question his integrity. He also had a great team accompanying him and it is good to see archaic laws pertaining to censorship being challenged. For decades, we just accepted the cuts made by the CBFC so this is a welcome move. The government initiated this process and it is really good to see them accepting a move for different certifications.