Farhan Akhtar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Pahlaj react to Cinematograph Act amendments

The Centre has proposed amendments to the Cinematograph Act of 1952 which will enable it to re-examine films already cleared by the CBFC. Farhan Akhtar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Pahlaj Nihalani, among others, have opposed it.

Recently the Centre released the draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 to the general public for comments until July 2. The new draft proposes to amend the Cinematograph Act of 1952 with provisions that will give the Centre revisionary powers and enable it to re-examine films already cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). 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. (1/2) The proposed revision explicitly indicates that the Central Government, if the situation so warranted, has the power to reverse the decision of the Board.