No stunt scenes or show statutory warning, UP to Censor Board

LUCKNOW: Stunts by actors on two and four wheelers in Bollywood films encourage rash driving and should not be shown or statutory warning should be issued along with the shots, Uttar Pradesh government has advised the Central Board of Film Certification ( CBFC).

"Heroes are shown in our films performing stunts on bikes and cars promoting such acts by youths leading to deaths on roads. I have advised the Chief Executive Officer of CBFC not to show such scenes in our films," UP Transport Commissioner K Ravindra Naik said.

"It has been seen that in films, heroes are seen without helmets while driving two-wheelers and not using seat belts while driving four wheelers. Besides, stunts and scenes flouting traffic rules are shown in films that promote violation by common man especially youths," he told PTI.

Naik has written a letter in this regard to Censor Board (CBFC).

Noting that films have a great impact on the society, he said such scenes should not be depicted as youths are easily enticed into imitating them.

The Transport Commissioner said that while CBFC ensures there are no scenes in films justifying and glorifying drinking and consuming tobacco or smoking in any way, same should be done with scenes promoting rash driving or driving without helmets and seat-belts.

"If the scene demands such acts, a statutory warning should be issued at the bottom of the screen," he said.

Naik said 1.40 lakh people die annually in road accidents on an average in the country and in Uttar Pradesh alone, 16,000 people are killed in such mishaps.

"From January 1 to June 30, 2014, 2,656 two-wheelers met with accidents in which 1,342 persons were killed. Had the two wheeler drivers followed traffic rules and put on helmets, lives of 90 per cent of them could have been saved", he said.

In Uttar Pradesh, an average of eight lakh vehicles are added to the existing ones making it difficult for police to ensure that traffic rules are properly followed.

For this, awareness is needed and films could help in this direction in a big way, Naik said.

"We will also give suggestions to CBFC as to what could be done in this regard. If they give positive response, awareness could be created among masses easily on the importance of following traffic rules," he added.