TKSNN: Newly appointed Censor Board CEO Rakesh Kumar says he is here to keep a check on the growing vulgarity and violence
CBFC ( Central Board of Film Certification) has a new CEO, Rakesh Kumar, an ex-employee in Indian Railways. In an exclusive chat with TOI at his Cuffe Parade residence on Tuesday night, he talks about his plans to scissor the objectionable content. Excerpts:
What’s the first thing on your agenda?
There is a huge backlog of films that needs to be cleared as we are short-staffed. I had a meet-n-greet with a set of leading filmmakers. I have to look into their request of allowing online submission of film trailers for approval. Also, Censor Chief, Leela Samson, has asked me to keep a check on the growing vulgarity and violence in films.
What’s your take on today’s films?
The seriousness in content is missing. Filmmakers are pushing the envelope a bit too far. They tell us, “Whatever we show is happening in our homes.” But what is happening in their homes is not necessarily happening across the country. So it cannot be the yardstick. I seriously don’t think Ranbir Kapoor should have shown his middle finger and bared his butt in ‘Besharam’. I also felt that given his reputation, Aamir Khan shouldn’t have produced a cussloaded film like ‘Delhi Belly’ (pauses).
My wife and I walked out of ‘ Agneepath’ in the interval because it was just too gory. ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ had terrible language and Vishal Bhardwaj retained Arshad Warsi’s sex scene in ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ despite us ordering him to blur it out. It was only when we told him that we’d be forced to make a police complaint, did he edit it out.
After watching ‘Shudh Desi Romance’, my five-year-old daughter asked me, “Dad, isn’t there too much love in this movie?” More recently, I went to see ‘Yaariyan’ with her and came out visibly embarrassed. Now, I have decided not to see even a U/A film with my kid.
How do you plan to change things?
I called a meeting of my Regional Officers and have told them that I am not happy with the way certain things are going.
Are you in favour of removing ‘No Smoking’ disclaimer?
No, Anurag Kashyap has to follow the law of the land. He has challenged it in court but he is unlikely to win the case.
How will you make adult content suitable for TV viewing?
If you have content like ‘Grand Masti’, I wonder how much would remain after we clip.
But the film did well…
Then pornography, which has a huge market in India, should be included in films to make them work better in the box-office.
Buzz is, CBFC has been lenient with influential filmmakers…
On the contrary, we have been lenient with low-budget filmakers. I was an observer at the Revising Committee. ‘Kill The Rapist’ was cleared with an A certificate. I questioned if it should be given a certificate at all.
What’s your view on the New Cinematograph Act?
It isn’t radically different from the previous one, except that U-12 and U-15 code will be included in the theatres. But I doubt the extent of its implementation.
Do you think that CBFC is walking on a tightrope with every film having plenty of objectionable content?
The problem is that the objectionable content is getting passed. This is making the filmmakers more audacious. If we can nip this trend in the bud, the results will show up sooner or later. Else I will be out.
Have you met the former CEO Pankaja Thakur?
Yes, I met her at her Wadala residence. It is a norm to meet your predecessor before taking charge.
Why wasn’t her stint not increased beyond three years?
Office politics was one of the reasons. She had come from Customs and maybe will go back.