BENGALURU: The regional team of the Censor Board of Film Certification is at the busiest best this month. Approximately 62 applications by filmmakers were submitted to the board between November end and December first week and all these movies have to be certified by December 31.
From back-to-back movie marathons to dealing with filmmakers who don't even have a film ready for certifications, the task has raised frustration and agony among members of the board says Srinivasappa,
Censor Board Regional Officer, in conversation with City Express.
The members have been clearing close to four movies in a day, with the panel now left with 25 films to be watched before the year end.
“December has been stressful so far,” he says, “but the show must go on,” he adds.
The censor office that had set a December 9 deadline for the submissions has extended it as most filmmakers failed to adhere to the date.
Most of the submissions are for films to be considered for either an award or a subsidy, only a handfull of these are commercial ones waiting to be certified for a release.
“Some filmmakers come back with correction seven months after the censor board review and expect us to clear it within 24 hours,” he says.
Most of the movies have not even been submitted categorically. Srinivasappa says most of the time the board has no idea if the movie is up for an award review or a subsidy one.
“Why do filmmakers wait until December end to send their films to the Censor Board,” he further questions.
Srinivasappa says the board is short staffed too. “We don't have enough women on our panel, which is another issue I am pursuing right now,” he says.
He says he also understands the plight of filmmakers and doesn't mean to “harass” them.
“Some filmmakers don't even show up on the day the board is watching the movie. They don't even pick up our call on the day and a few claim to be out of station,” he says.
The reason why so many filmmakers want to finish the censorship by the end of December is that they can be elligible for a subsidy in this year's batch.
“With technology, anyone can be a filmmaker and there's a crowd of films,” says director Lingdevru.
But most of them are looking for government subsidies and awards and not really looking to release them in theatres, he says.