Selective censorship: The CBFC's morality trap

The Central Board of Film Certification is not performing its inherent function of certification and doing censorship.

- ANUBHAV CHAUDHARY

On 26th September, Neeraj Ghaywan's film 'Homebound' entered the theatres.

Before receiving the U/A certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the applicant was asked to make 11 changes, including deleting a dialogue, censoring a cricket match scene, etc. This was not the first time CBFC exercised censorship instead of performing its actual function of certifying based on the type of content. Earlier this year, James Gunn's 'Superman' was also ensnared in the Board's morality trap, asked to cut down a 33-second kissing sequence to get the concerned certification. The issue arises when the board imposes its political and ideological leanings on the public by granting the same certification to other films while letting them carry similar scenes. These double standards cover sexual, violent, and other content. For instance, the film 'Befikre' received an identical certification. Such arbitrary censorship stunts filmmakers' creative freedom and diminishes film industry's diversity.