The govt has put the ban on showing smoking scenes in films and TV on hold.
NEW DELHI: The government has put the ban on showing smoking scenes in films and TV on hold after filmmakers raised reservations on the practical difficulties in implementing the order. This ensures that big ticket films that are scheduled for release like Shah Rukh Khanstarrer-Don 2 can be cleared without cuts or blurring of images.
The health ministry had issued an order banningsmoking scenes on screen demanding that cigarette products be blurred or edited and scenes be accompanied by a scroll with a disclaimer during the film. The notification has been sent to the law ministry for its opinion after it was pointed out that the Bombay High Court had stayed the smoking ban earlier on film director Mahesh Bhatt's petition.
The notification was issued on November 14 despite reservations raised by the I&B ministry. Recently, Don 2 producer Ritesh Sidhwani also met I&B minister Ambika Soni to discuss the issue.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) CEO Pankaja Thakur said, "CBFC has not taken a pro or anti-smoking stand. We are waiting for instructions from the I&B ministry." She added that since the CBFC Act itself mandated that smoking should not be glorified, the Board had already asked films to carry a 10-second disclaimer saying smoking was injurious to health and gave all films with such scenes a U/A certificate (that is adult guidance advised).
Sources said that the I&B ministry had raised concern over practical difficulties in implementing the new notification in films. The new rule demands that all old films and TV programmes should mandatorily "crop display of brands of cigarettes or any other tobacco product or any forms of product placement, close-ups and for new films and TV programme such scenes shall be edited or blurred by the producer prior to screening". The ban on display of tobacco product or its usage also extends to promotional materials and posters.
For new films and TV programme a strong editorial justification for display of tobacco products or their use will have to be given to the Censor Board along with an anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent scroll at the bottom of the screen during the period of such display.
The rule that the filmmakers and producers are agreeable to follow include a disclaimer, of a minimum 20- second duration, by the actor concerned regarding the ill effects of the use of such products, in the beginning and middle of the film or television programme and anti-tobacco health spots or messages, of minimum 30-second duration each at the beginning and middle of the film or TV programme
The health ministry had issued an order banningsmoking scenes on screen demanding that cigarette products be blurred or edited and scenes be accompanied by a scroll with a disclaimer during the film. The notification has been sent to the law ministry for its opinion after it was pointed out that the Bombay High Court had stayed the smoking ban earlier on film director Mahesh Bhatt's petition.
The notification was issued on November 14 despite reservations raised by the I&B ministry. Recently, Don 2 producer Ritesh Sidhwani also met I&B minister Ambika Soni to discuss the issue.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) CEO Pankaja Thakur said, "CBFC has not taken a pro or anti-smoking stand. We are waiting for instructions from the I&B ministry." She added that since the CBFC Act itself mandated that smoking should not be glorified, the Board had already asked films to carry a 10-second disclaimer saying smoking was injurious to health and gave all films with such scenes a U/A certificate (that is adult guidance advised).
Sources said that the I&B ministry had raised concern over practical difficulties in implementing the new notification in films. The new rule demands that all old films and TV programmes should mandatorily "crop display of brands of cigarettes or any other tobacco product or any forms of product placement, close-ups and for new films and TV programme such scenes shall be edited or blurred by the producer prior to screening". The ban on display of tobacco product or its usage also extends to promotional materials and posters.
For new films and TV programme a strong editorial justification for display of tobacco products or their use will have to be given to the Censor Board along with an anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent scroll at the bottom of the screen during the period of such display.
The rule that the filmmakers and producers are agreeable to follow include a disclaimer, of a minimum 20- second duration, by the actor concerned regarding the ill effects of the use of such products, in the beginning and middle of the film or television programme and anti-tobacco health spots or messages, of minimum 30-second duration each at the beginning and middle of the film or TV programme
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