Here, you can view my presentation on Censorship and its significance in films

1. Smt. S. B. Gardi
Department of English
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
Prepared by- Urvi Dave
Course- MA- II
Semester- 4
Course No.- 15
Paper Name- Mass Media and Communication
Batch Year- 2014-16
Enrolment no.- 14101009
email id- dave.urvi71@gmail.com

2. Censorship and its
significance in Films

4.  Supervision and control of the information and ideas that
are circulated among the people within a society is
Censorship. In modern times, Censorship refers to the
examination of books, films, television and radio programmes,
news reports and other communication media for the purpose
of altering or suppressing parts thought to be objectionable
or offensive.
 In its broadest sense, Censorship refers to suppression of
information, ideas or artistic expression by anyone, whether
government officials, church authorities, private pressure
themselves. In its narrower, more legalistic sense, censorship
means only the prevention by official government action of
the circulation of messages already produced. Thus, writers
who ‘censor’ themselves before putting words on paper, for
fear of failing to sell their work, are not engaging in
censorship in this narrower sense, nor are those who boycott
sponsors of disliked television shows. Yet all of these
restraints have the effect of limiting the diversity that
would otherwise be available in the marketplace of ideas and
so may be considered.

5. Film Censorship: A brief history
 Film Censorship was set in motion in India when the
Cinematograph Act of 1918 was made law from May 1920.
 Censor Boards were set up in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras,
Rangoon and Lahore. All members of the Borders were
appointed by the Government.
 In October 1927 an Indian Cinematograph Committee was
appointed with an Indian, T. Rangachariar, as Chairman.
 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.

6. 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.
 K. A. Abbas challenged the censorship
of films in general and pre- censorship in
particular in the Supreme Court in
November 1969.

7. 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

8.  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.

9. Objectives-
1) The medium of film remains
responsible and sensitive to
the values and standards of
society.
2) artistic expression and
creative freedom are not
unduly curbed.
3) Certification is responsible for
social changes.
4) The medium of film provides
clean and healthy
entertainment.

10. Types of Censorships-
1) Official/State Censorship- Defence advisory
notices are displayed, imposed by the
Government.
2) Legislative Censorship- DVDs are classified
as suitable to be shown in the home.
Created to protect children from bad
language and imagery.
3) Voluntary Censorship- British board of Film
Censors established which brought in the
watershed of no graphic content before 9
PM.
4) Self Censorship- Programme makers or
journalists censor themselves to comply with
social pressure.

11. 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.

12. Detailed Guidelines for certification:
Ø Anti-social activities such as violence are not glorified or justified.
Ø Scenes which have the effect of justifying or glorifying drinking are
shown.
Ø Human sensibilities are not offended by vulgarity, obscenity or
depravity.
Ø Such dual meaning words as obviously cater to baser instincts are not
allowed.
Ø Scenes degrading or denigrating women in any manner are not
presented.
Ø Visual or words contemptuous of racial, religious or other groups are not
presented.
Ø The sovereignty and integrity or India is not called in question.
Ø The security of the State is not jeopardized or endangered.
Ø Friendly relations with foreign state are not strained.
Ø Public order is not engaged.

13. 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.
What is a film?
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of
still images, which, when shown on a screen, creates the
illusion of moving images due to the Phi Phenomenon. A
film is created by photographing actual scenes with a
motion picture camera.

14. History of Films-
o The history of film began in the 1890s,
with the invention of the first motion-
picture cameras and the establishment of
first film production companies and
cinemas. The first film of the 1890s were
under a minute long and until 1927,
motion pictures were produced without
sound. The first rotation camera was
introduced in 1897.
o By 1914, continuity cinema was the
established mode of commercial cinema.
During the 1960s, the studio system in
Hollywood declined. Graphic images of
bloody death and gunfights were first
seen in 1970s.

15. o The cinema of India consists of films produced
across India, which includes the cinematic cultures
of Indian states. Cinema as a medium gained
popularity in the country and as many as 1000
films in various languages of India are produced
annually.
o Dadasaheb Phalke is the father of Indian
cinema. Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for life time
contribution to cinema, was instituted in his
honor, by the Government of India in 1969, and is
the most prestigious and coveted award in Indian
cinema.

16. Necessity in Films-
Film censorship becomes necessary because a film
motivates thought and action assures a high degree
of attention and retention as compared to the printed
word. The combination of act and speech, sight and
sound in semi darkness of the theatre with
elimination of all distracting ideas will have a strong
impact on the minds of the viewers and can affect
emotions, therefore it has as much potential for evil
as it has as equal potential to instil or cultivate
violent or bad behaviour. It cannot be equated with
other modes of communication. Censorship by prior
restraint is therefore not only desirable but also
necessary.

18. Example-
In 2002, the film War and Peace depicts
scenes of nuclear testing and the
September 11, 2001 attacks, created by
Anand Patwardhan was asked to cut but
the count decreed the cuts
unconstitutional and the film was shown
uncut.
In 2006, seven states of India had
banned the release or exhibition of the
Hollywood movie The Da Vinci Code
including the text. However, high courts
later on lifted the ban and the movie
was shown later on in two states.

19.  Fifty Shades of Grey- film
was not given a rating by
the censor board, even
after voluntary cuts by
the distributor.
 MSG- 2 The Messenger
film was banned in
Chhattisgarh for hurting
sentiments of Adivasi
community.

20. Conclusion:
Not only the movies but Music, Drama, 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 are harm
to the national integrity.

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