I&B ministry should divest itself of the role of the uber-nanny

The information and broadcasting ministry seems to have decided to have some fun. In what can only be described as an incredulous exercise in self-contradiction, it is celebrating the scenes that the Central Board of Film Certification has diligently deleted all these years — kisses with lips actually touching, a cuss word here, a tangle of limbs there, a pack of exclamations against gods and sacred cows. Has the ministry come to believe that “society” is ready for a public spectacle of prurience?

It’s been the ministry, and not the ministered, that has been fidgeting forever about what kind of cinema is suitable — and for whom.

Taking refuge under the broad-brush guidelines of the very old Cinematograph Act of 1952, the censor board snipped and stalled movies. And then there were others happy to play supra-censors: from state governments to fringe groups. The unthinking public, they all reasoned, would be easily moulded by images floating in the darkness of the cinema.

So, Parzaniacould not be released in Gujarat, Viswaroopamfaced a backlash in Tamil Nadu and even Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomwas briefly banned for its “overt” imperialism. A draft cinematograph Bill tries to make improvements with age-specific ratings. But should a select few decide what is right for the rest of the country?