Name:
Budhiditya Shankar Das
Course:
M.A (English)
Topic: What is Censorship? Explain the
significance of Censorship in films.
Semester:
04
Roll
No. : 06
Paper
No.: 15
Paper
Name: Mass Communication and Media Studies
Submitted
to: Dr. Dilip Barad,
Smt.
S.B.Gardi
Department
of English,
Maharaja
Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
What do you mean by term Censorship? Explain the significance
of in films.
History of Film-
Although the start of the history of film is not
clearly defined, the commercial, public screening of ten of Lumiere
Brothers short films in Paris on 28 December 1895 can be regarded as the
breakthrough of projected Cinematography motion pictures. There had
been earlier cinematographic results and screenings but these lacked either the
quality or the momentum that propelled the cinematographer Lumiere into a
worldwide success. During the 1890s films became several minutes long and
started to consist of several shots. The first film studios were built in 1897.
The first rotating camera for taking panning shots was built in 1898. Special
effects were introduced and film continuity, involving action moving from one
sequence into another, began to be used. The first eleven years of motion
pictures show the cinema moving from a novelty to an established large-scale
entertainment industry. The films represent a movement from films consisting of
one shot, completely made by one person with a few assistants, towards films
several minutes long consisting of several shots, which were made by large
companies in something like industrial conditions.
The year 1900 marks the emergence of the first motion
pictures that can be considered as "films" – at this point,
film-makers begin to introduce basic editing techniques and film narrative. The use of different camera speeds also appeared around 1900
in the films of Robert W. Paul and Hepworth. Paul shot scenes from On a Runaway Motor
Car through Piccadilly Circus (1899) with the camera turning very slowly. (Wikipedia)
What is Film?
A film, also called a movie, motion
picture, theatrical film, or photo play, is a series of still images
that, when shown on a screen; create the illusion of moving images. A
film is created by photographing actual scenes with
a motion-picture camera; by photographing drawings or miniature models using
traditional animation techniques; by means
of CGI and computer animation; or by a combination of some or
all of these techniques, and other visual effects. Films are cultural
artefacts created by specific cultures. They reflect those cultures,
and, in turn, affect them. Film is considered to be an important art form,
a source of popular entertainment, and a powerful medium for educating
or indoctrinating citizens. Some films have become popular worldwide
attractions through the use of dubbing or subtitles to translate
the dialog into other languages. Some have criticized the film industry's
glorification of violence, and have perceived in it the prevalence of a
negative attitude toward women.
Raja Harishchandra is the first silent feature film in India,
it was directed by Dadasaheb Phalke in the year 1913. (Wikipedia)
Define Censorship-
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public
communication, or other information, on the basis that such material is
considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or
"inconvenient" as determined by government authorities or by
community consensus. Censorship could be direct or
indirect, in which case it is referred to as soft censorship. It occurs in
a variety of different media, including speech, books, music, films, and other
arts, the press, radio, television, and the Internet for a variety of claimed
reasons including national security, to control obscenity, child
pornography, and hate speech, to protect children or other vulnerable
groups, to promote or restrict political or religious views, and to
prevent slander and libel.
Governments and private organizations may engage in
censorship. Other groups or institutions may propose and petition for
censorship. When an individual such as an author or other creator engages in
censorship of their own works or speech, it is referred to as self
censorship. (Wikipedia)
“Censorship reflects a society’s
lack of confidence in itself”.
-Potter Stewart
A brief history on
Film Censorship-
Film Censorship was set in motion in India when the
Cinematograph Act of 1918 was made law from May 1920. It allowed the exhibition
of films only after they had been certified as suitable for public exhibition.
Censor Boards were set up in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras,
Rangoon and Lahore. All members of the Borders were appointed by the
Government. The consisted of the Commissioner of Police, the Collector of
Customs, a member of the Indian Educational Services, and three prominent
citizens representing the Hindu, Muslim and other community
There were primarily concerned with obscenity, the wounding
of religious sentiments, or inciting disaffection against the Government. Under
the Act, the control was made more rigid and effective countrywide. Amendments
to the Act of 1918 in later years made film censorship a function of the
Provincial Governments.
In October 1927 an Indian Cinematograph Committee was
appointed with an Indian, T. Rangachariar, as Chairman. It observed in its
Report submitted two years later that censorship is certainly necessary in
India, and is the only effective method of preventing the import, production
and public exhibition of films which might demoralize morals, hurt religious
susceptibilities or excite communal or racial animosities.
The Cinematograph Act of 1952 continued the British tradition
of severe censorship of films that made any references to the political
situation or to communal groups. In 1969, the Khosla Commission was appointed
to report on the whole film industry. It recommended an autonomous Censor Board
without any official government control the examination of a film as a whole
and to allow kissing, nudity and violence, if they were integral to the theme.
The Government reluctantly accepted the Report, and in 1974 a Bill was
introduced in the Lok Sabha. The whims of the I and B Ministry decided which
films should be given ‘A’ of ‘U’ Certificates. Political satires like Kissa
Kursi Ka were banned. (Choudhary)
The
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC):
The Central Board of Film Censors is set up by the Central
Government under the powers granted it by the Cinematograph Act and the
Cinematograph Rules 1958. The Board is headed by a chairman, appointed by the
Central Government and is assisted to 12- 35 members.
Advisory Panels:
Advisory Panels are constituted at each regional office by
the Central Government which also decides, in consultation with the CBFC, the
number of panel members for each office. The members are appointed by the
Central Government in consultation with the CBFC.
How Films are
censored:
The examining committee consists of a member from the
Advisory Panel and an examining officer in the case of short film, while in the
case of a feature film four members from the Advisory Panel and an examining
offer. This film to be examined must be complete in every sense, with the
background music and all sound effects duly recorded on the film itself.
Under the Amendment Act, 1983, all previews of films for the
purpose of certification and the reports and record related to it, will be
treated as confidential. The names of members of the Examining Committee will
not be disclosed to any other person including the application or his
representative. The applicant or his representative will not be allowed to be
present inside the preview theatre.
If for any reason, the members of committees felt that any
particular portion for film has to be cut, there could not be any
‘confidentiality’ about these opinions especially when the privilege was not
claimed on the ground of public interest.
A film is judged in its entirety from the point of view of
its overall impact and is examined in the light of the period depicted in the
film and the contemporary standards of the country and the people to whom the
film relates, provided that the film does not deprave the morality of the
audience. (Choudhary)
Detailed guidelines for
Certification-
è Anti-social activities such as
violence are not glorified or justified.
è Scenes which have the effect of
justifying or glorifying drinking are shown.
è Human sensibilities are not offended
by vulgarity, obscenity or depravity.
è Such dual meanings words as
obviously cater to baser instincts are not allowed.
è Scenes degrading or denigrating women
in any manner are not presented.
è Visual or words contemptuous of
racial, religious or other groups are not presented.
è The sovereignty and integrity or
India is not called in question.
è The security of the State is not
jeopardized or endangered.
è Friendly relations with foreign state
are not strained.
è Public order is not engaged.
Conclusion:
Not only the moves but
Music, Dramas, Maps, Books, Regional films, Documentaries, which hurt the
feeling of the people are banned or censored. A film with distorted history,
tradition or culture that is feared to create controversy is harm to the
national integrity. Given the reach and power of the film medium, without
censorship there might be a flood of grade Z or reactionary films,. Hence,
censorship is significant but we should see that Censor board doesn’t become
puppets of power. (Choudhary)
Works cited-
Choudhary, Divya. Blog. 17 03 2017. 02 04 2018
<http://divyachoudhary19.blogspot.in/2017/03/what-do-you-mean-by-term-censorship.html>.
Wikipedia. 31 03 2018. 02 04
2018 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_film>.
Wikipedia. 17 03 2018. 02 04
2018 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film>.
Wikipedia. 02 04 2018. 02 04
2018 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship>.
