Ministry did not know, its man cleared Kaanta girl

Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF)’s Executive Director Bhuvan Lall, said there were no glitches in airing the song as the Censor Board had cleared it with a Universal viewing certificate on February 7. The IBF will be writing to the Ministry explaining its stand on this particular album.

As per rules, all songs on the video format need a clearance from the Censor Board before they are aired on satellite channels.

The ministry, a few days ago, had shot off showcause notices to three music channels asking them to blacklist 13 music video albums. The reason: Complaints from the general public including various women’s organisations on the content of the music videos being aired on the channels.

The songs that went under the hammer included Kaanta Laga, Chadhti Jawani, Mahi We, Truth Hurts, Khallas, Ek Jindari and Raat Baaki. The Ministry had also declared that the video albums should get clearance from the Censor Board before they are aired on channels.

In the last couple of months, the I&B ministry has sent more than two dozen showcause notices to television channels showing surrogate liquor commercials, sexist advertisements, lingerie commercials — promos of adult films and music video albums — deeming them unfit for general viewing.

Following the showcause notices, I&B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has met with representatives of the Advertising Standard Council of India and members of the Broadcasting Foundation.

Officials said the foundation is working out a comprehensive framework for a programme code that will cover all aspects of programming including news. It is also devoting a chapter on music videos!