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FILM INTERVIEW: SHARMILA TAGORE

Film Certification Board Is Not Moral Police to Bollywood, Indian Cinema

By: Simran Mody

January 17, 2011

Serving as the head of India’s Central Board of Certification is no easy task, especially when its moniker of everyday use is Censor Board. The committee who determines whether a film is viewable to the public at large, the Censor Board is the Indian equivalent of the Motion Picture Association of America. Accordingly, it is the Censor Board who issues film ratings for Bollywood productions the same way MPAA does for Hollywood, with each project vying for the catch-all U/A designation.

Despite its “Censor Board” moniker, the head of the Central Board of Certification--Sharmila Tagore--believes freedom of expression within Indian cinema is essential, though such expression would also be open to “reasonable restrictions.” That being said, Ms. Tagore, who has served as Censor Board chief for about seven years now, was quick to point out that her regulatory committee does not double as the moral police.

Ms. Tagore’s statement was made in light of recent criticisms that the Censor Board has become too lenient in approving films for general audience viewing during her tenure as the group’s leader.

“Freedom of expression under fundamental rights is needed, but there should be reasonable restriction,” Ms. Tagore told the India media in Delhi as she attended the 16th anniversary event of Indian Women’s Press Corps. “We are, however, not here for moral policing. The Censor Board will work in the same manner as it has been working, and it's not going to go back. I have tried to build synergy between civil society, ministry, and producers.”

It is a fine line Ms. Tagore and the rest of the Board must walk upon. On the one hand, the entity wants to promote freedom of expression and to avoid enacting moral policy. Conversely, it also wants to avoid a slippery slope and open the floodgates for a wide variety of exceptions.

Case in point, in 2010, Bollywood released provocative films such as Love Sex aur Dhoka and Dunno Y … Na Jaane Kyun. While racy films in nature, the Censor Board had no place in censoring films, as the filmmakers were well within their rights of freedom of expression to present such topics. On the other hand, while Kaminey and Yeh Saali Zindagi may have had cinematic value, each of the films' respective titles were suspect and questionable, and both film titles did not sit well with Ms. Tagore.

The issue, of course, is what to allow and what not, especially when the Board issues the Holy Grail of ratings--U/A.

“I really had a problem with the title of Sudhir Mishra’s film, Ye Saali Zindagi. The trend started with Kaminey, and once it triggers, you can’t stop it,” Ms. Tagore candidly told the media. “But we try our best to come to a democratic decision, and whatever objectionable matter is allowed is only five or two percent.”

While it is difficult to navigate through such grey areas, Ms. Tagore held her ground on a more simple yet important matter: the government’s recent decision to reportedly ban on-screen smoking in films and television serials.

“The ban on smoking in films and serials does not make any sense to me. What I believe is that smoking scenes can also be used to dissuade people,” the 64-year-old Censor Board chief stated to the press.

Through it all, Ms. Tagore ultimately believes it is up to the audience to educate themselves on how to watch and appreciate films in light of the decisions handed down by the Censor Board.

“I think the most important thing is to be media literate, as today, everything is in images. People need to become more tolerant and mature,” she candidly told the media. “The impact of obscenity and violence could be lessened by blurring the image without ruining the film.”

A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and steady Bollywood actress who recently starred in Antaheen and Break Ke Baad, the veteran thespian is gearing up for the release of her latest film, Life Goes On, which pits her opposite her daughter, Soha Ali Khan.

Speaking of her acting career, Ms. Tagore seems content with where her resume has taken her, though she hopes to take on more Bengali films.

“I don't have a problem doing character roles. I have done films in my life for money, for a friend, if a like a script or as a therapy, and I would like to do more Bengali films, as it is my mother tongue. I will work in films as long as I can,” Ms. Tagore humbly stated to the press.

Among the other issues the Censor Board is considering, according to Ms. Tagore, is a new rating category of 15-plus, which would apparently limit or ban the distribution of certain fictional and documentary films.