Bombay High Court takes on CBFC over certification for a children film – read details

The Bombay High Court on Friday (July 5) criticized the Central Board of Film Certification for refusing a ‘U’ certificate to a children’s film. In its hearing, the bench also stated that CBFC has no authority to decide what people see or listen to. It also brought up the point that the board has not learnt a lesson with the controversy that happened over Udta Punjab.

According to a petition filed by the Children’s Film Society, the CBFC ordered them to delete a scene and mute the word chidiyakhana in the film or else the film will be given a U/A certificate. Despite making the desired changes, the board still didn’t give the film a ‘U’ certificate after which the Children Film Society filed a petition in the court.

As per the CBFC advocate, the board now finds that the film’s theme, execution and narrative mandated a U/A certificate. The advocate also gave the court an email from the regional office that said the film was based on violence, included some scenes of murder, bullying, suicide, a mother slapping a child and also some scenes of discrimination which makes it a U/A film.

After observing that the CBFC is after the film, the judges told CBFC that it is a certification board and not censor board. They cannot suppress the freedom of expression. The bench led by justice Gautam Patel also stressed on the fact that films are a better way to explain kids the issues that society faces, be racism or discrimination. “You are forming an opinion that the entire population is infantile and imbecile and you are the only one with the iota of intelligence,” said Justice Patel to the CBFC.

Let us see how this issue shapes up further, till then stay tuned to CineBlitz.