The 52-year-old Indian Censor Board will finally be told what can be shown and what can’t be to viewers. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is engaged in an exercise that will set the limits to sex, define violence and obscenity in films before they are certified for viewing by the Board.As for those who will judge the films, the rules will specify minimum qualifications required to be eligible to be a Censor Board member. ‘‘Minimum requirements like a degree/diploma in film journalism will be welcome,’’ officials said.How much of sex can be shown in films is a contentious issue, admit officials, but they are willing to engage in the task of laying down the rules that will leave little room for interpretation and problems. They will take the rules to the Censor Board members and the industry before they are incorporated in the Cinematograph Act.So far, the rules were vague, like a film shall not be certified for public exhibition if, in the opinion of the authority competent to grant a certificate, the film or any part of it is against the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or involves defamation or contempt of court or is likely to incite the commission of any offence.Instead of vague hints, the rules will now state that for a film certified for Unrestricted viewing (U), evaluation will be done on the basis of theme, violent content, language and sex. If there is sex, the rules will state that it should not be gratuitous, language should be tempered without double entendre and there is no nudity.For films with adult content, the rules will state that the scenes should not be based on perverted sexual practices. Officials admit that there will be film-makers who will experiment with unusual themes, but say the rules will take care of the changing face of Indian cinema.Also, with the setting up of the Broadcast Regulatory Authority which will go into rules for programmes on television, sources said there will finally be more clarity on the content being aired.
