Suriya to Kamal Haasan: Indian film stars slam Narendra Modi government over Cinematograph Bill 2021

Many prominent actors and filmmakers from across the country condemned the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s proposed Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill.

Many prominent actors and filmmakers from across the country condemned the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s proposed Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill. (Photo | PTI and EPS)

Updated on:

03 Jul 2021, 2:05 pm

2 min read

KOLLYWOOD ACTOR KAMAL HAASAN: Cinema, media and the literati cannot afford to be the three iconic monkeys of India. Seeing, hearing and speaking of impending evil is the only medication against attempts to injure and debilitate democracy. Please act, voice your concern for freedom and liberty. (Photo | EPS)

KOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER PA RANJITH: The amendment to the Cinematograph Act 2021, proposed by the Union Government follows their overall position of curtailing dissent and sets a dangerous precedent in stifling freedom of thought and speech in cinema. We demand that this amendment be revoked. (Photo | EPS)

KOLLYWOOD ACTOR SURIYA: Law is meant to protect the freedom of expression. it is not supposed to strangle its voice. (Photo | EPS)

KOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER KARTHIK SUBBARAJ: The proposed amendment to the Cinematograph Act, if implemented will be a big blow to freedom of Speech in Art. Please endorse the statement to show that we stand for the Freedom of expression. (Photo | Facebook)

KOLLYWOOD ACTOR VISHAL: Where is Freedom of Speech & Expression? Why have a Censor Board? Why the Hectic Process? Why always target Cinema Industry? First GST, Then no action against Piracy & Now this Law, It’s not at all Fair to bring this Act. (Photo | EPS)

KOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER GAUTHAM VASUDEV MENON: The proposed amendment to the Cinematograph Act if implemented will be a big blow to freedom of Speech in Art. Please endorse below to show that we stand for Freedom of expression. I HAVE & I DO! (Photo | EPS)

KOLLYWOOD ACTOR KARTHI: The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Draft) allowing the Central Government to cancel a film's censor certificate at any time will create insecurity and severly impact business prospects for every film and hurt the industry, hence such provisions must be dropped. While draft measures to curb piracy are commendable, it is highly undesirable to strangle freedom of expression in a civilized society as ours. Therefore request the government to heed our request. (Photo | EPS)

KOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER LINGUSAMY: As a filmmaker, I endorse everyone in objecting this bill which is against our fundamental right. (Photo | EPS)

KOLLYWOOD ACTOR PRAKASH RAJ: SUPREME GOVERNMENT S STUPID…SUPREME CENSOR…IT’S A DICTATORS AGENDA…WE CONDEM IT... (Photo | EPS)

BOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER SHYAM BENEGAL: I don’t understand why this has come up in the first place. I am actually at a loss, thinking what exactly is the point of this. Unless they want to hold on to and have chosen to function the way they want… to have control over the media. We are a democratic country, our media is supposed to be free. The government, in this case, has no role to play because they’ve already set up a system- the CBFC. So why is there a need for the government to come back into it? Naturally, the filmmakers would be worried that why is the government so concerned. (Photo | PTI)

VETERAN CINEMATOGRAPHER PC SREERAM: Laws of freedom of expression is to protect it and not to strangle it. Film fraternity should strongly oppose the proposed amendment to Cinematography Act. (Photo | Facebook)

BOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER SUDHIR MISHRA: You are putting anything in the hands of any petty bureaucrat sitting anywhere who can recall any film. It is odd. I don’t get why you want more law. Then what is the value of CBFC? When anyone can recall any film, then how do I make any film. Why do I make a film and spend money on its release when it can be recalled. (Photo | PTI)

BOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER VISHAL BHARDWAJ: What a strange proposition to amend the law on film certification. What is the meaning of a censor certificate if the film can be reexamined on anybody's complaint? (Photo | EPS)

BOLLYWOOD ACTRESS ROHINI HATTANGADI: It makes no sense to recall censored films. The censor board already comprises people from all strata of society, and not necessarily just artists. To override their decision is to doubt their intelligence and ability. It's a wrong move. With this amendment, anybody can raise objections and get a film re-censored. We won't be able to put forth our thoughts freely. Art is given the lowest status in our society, whereas it should be placed first. We cannot progress without art. (Photo | PTI)

MOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER SAJIN BABU: Influential individuals or groups re-examining certified films is unacceptable. It is also time to replace the letter-based certification with age-based certification. It would bring more clarity.' Devashish, on the other hand, says the anti-piracy intent of the bill is just a facade. (Photo | Twitter)

INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER LEENA MANIMEKALAI: Initially, the plan was to bring in OTT platforms under CBFC's ambit; then, FCAT got abolished; and now, this! All of this in one year. The agenda is pretty clear. It appears that only those films that will sing praise will be appreciated by the powers that be. The film fraternity needs to wake up urgently. (Photo | EPS)

BOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER DEVASHISH MAKHIJA: I am not surprised at all. They have been making similar moves — throttling voices, calling for film bans — to ensure that there is only one narrative out there. Now, such intentions are taking the form of an amendment. This is a stepping stone for something more sinister. Filmmakers have always had it rough, but these last five years have been quite hard. It doesn’t seem like we can have a conversation at all. (Photo | YouTube Screengrab)

BOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER ANAND GANDHI: I have been shying away from taking this issue head-on. This is probably the first time I am making an open statement about such an issue. It is time for all of the film fraternity to unite to fight this. There seems to be a sense of fatigue that has set in, in the face of consistent oppression of thought. We need to rise above that. All we can really do, given the present climate, is to battle the incoming policy. We will have to fight cases. It seems to be our last resort. (Photo | Facebook)

Prominent filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Hansal Mehta, Vetri Maaran, Nandita Das, Shabana Azmi, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar and Dibakar Banerjee are among the actors and filmmakers who have written an open letter to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry opposing the government’s proposed amendments to the 1952 Cinematograph Act. The following is a list of five ideas for the government included in the letter: (Photo | PTI and Facebook)

1.The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 must clearly define the role of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as a body which certities film content for public exhibition and not as a censoring body.

2. We recommend that the amendments giving powers to the Central Government to revoke a film certificate must be dropped. We agree with the spirit of the Supreme Court decision which held that this would violate the separation of powers in our democracy.

3. While we agree that film piracy poses real challenges to filmmakers, the proposed amendments do not address this concern effectively merely by introducing a penal provision. If introduced, sufficient exceptions on fair use, de minimis use and derivative work specific to films must be created. Systemic solutions to genuinely counter piracy must be introduced.

4. We recommend that the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) be reinstated, as it enables affordable and accessible remedies to filmmakers.

5. The Cinematograph Act must be amended to include a clear definition of public’ exhibition and bring under its purview only commercial films with substantive capital investment and revenue models tied to theatrical exhibitions.

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Kamal Haasan