NEW DELHI: Soon you can catch an adult film on TV but with some trims and cuts. The censor board has this week lifted a 10-month ban on "modifying'' films with adult certification (euphemism for cutting objectionable dialogues and scenes) to be made suitable for TV viewing. The decision comes following repeated demands from the film industry and broadcasters.
"We have asked producers who have films with 'A' certificate to make cuts (to the film) voluntarily. The decision was made after broadcasters and producers came to us," Pahlaj Nihalani, Central Board of Film Certification chairperson said.
A film must have a U/A (parental guidance advised) certificate for satellite TV and U (fit for universal screening) certificate for Doordarshan.
Since January this year Nihalani had stopped the practice of modifying A certificate films for TV citing lack of rules. A recent C&AG audit had raised objections over 172 films that had adult certification and were re-certified as U/A. "We stopped the practice after the C&AG audit report hinting at corruption in the certification process. So now we have asked the producers to cut out what they consider objectionable themselves. We will only look at the film once more to ensure that it is fit for viewing on TV," Nihalani said.
This meant several action, violent thrillers had to give TV rights a miss leading to substantial losses for both film producers and broadcasters. According to FICCI-KPMG 2014 report cable & satellite (C&S) rights form a major chunk of revenues for film producers and contribute almost 12% to overall industry's revenues. C&S revenues rose by 20.2% in 2012 to Rs 1,510 million in 2013. During 2013 C&S rights for high budget Bollywood movies were sold at an average of Rs 400-500 million.
Among the first films that could benefit from this move is "Furious 7'' part of the Fast & Furious franchise that was recently released in theatres but was given an adult certificate because of the action sequences.
Adult films allowed back on TV but with ‘voluntary cuts’ - The Times of India
"We have asked producers who have films with 'A' certificate to make cuts (to the film) voluntarily. The decision was made after broadcasters and producers came to us," Pahlaj Nihalani, Central Board of Film Certification chairperson said.
A film must have a U/A (parental guidance advised) certificate for satellite TV and U (fit for universal screening) certificate for Doordarshan.
Since January this year Nihalani had stopped the practice of modifying A certificate films for TV citing lack of rules. A recent C&AG audit had raised objections over 172 films that had adult certification and were re-certified as U/A. "We stopped the practice after the C&AG audit report hinting at corruption in the certification process. So now we have asked the producers to cut out what they consider objectionable themselves. We will only look at the film once more to ensure that it is fit for viewing on TV," Nihalani said.
This meant several action, violent thrillers had to give TV rights a miss leading to substantial losses for both film producers and broadcasters. According to FICCI-KPMG 2014 report cable & satellite (C&S) rights form a major chunk of revenues for film producers and contribute almost 12% to overall industry's revenues. C&S revenues rose by 20.2% in 2012 to Rs 1,510 million in 2013. During 2013 C&S rights for high budget Bollywood movies were sold at an average of Rs 400-500 million.
Among the first films that could benefit from this move is "Furious 7'' part of the Fast & Furious franchise that was recently released in theatres but was given an adult certificate because of the action sequences.
Adult films allowed back on TV but with ‘voluntary cuts’ - The Times of India
