‘Panel is finalising certification suggestions’

Shyam Benegal told this newspaper that the committee is now in the process of finalising its recommendations on certification of films over clearances to be obtained from the Animal Welfare Board under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the depiction of smoking in films, which are required to show a disclaimer in every scene that involves smoking as per a directive by the health and family welfare ministry.

Besides Mr Benegal, the panel includes actor Kamal Hassan, filmmakers Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Piyush Pandey, Goutam Ghose, Bhawana Somaaya and senior officials of the I&B ministry.

In its recommendations to the I&B ministry, it said that the CBFC’s scope should be restricted to categorising the suitability of films to audience groups on the basis of age and maturity.

The only exception should be when a film contains anything that violates provisions of Section 5B (1) of the Cinematograph Act 1952 that pertain to the national interest and security issues.