Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: Let's not make India look Draconian

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Shyam Benegal

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Shyam Benegal

I am a storyteller and my job is that of a conductor who orchestrates a film," says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra about his upcoming film, Mirzya. But over the last six months, the filmmaker has remained busy on another project that required as much of his sweat and blood.

Last January, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry appointed Shyam Benegal to lead a panel for revamping the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The panel worked in a hush-hush fashion till the Ministry announced that the changes are being formulated into a law that will be introduced in the Parliament's winter session. Mehra, who was a part of the panel, tells us that the new legislation will give greater power to the filmmakers, but is quick to add that "with great power comes great responsibility".

"I never saw filmmakers not have enough liberties in this country. We were always clear that the society has evolved since the '50s. In 2016, the same guidelines don't apply. The unanimous thought was to do away with scissors. Abusive words can't be bleeped out and kisses can't be reduced. Power to cut has been taken away from them; now there are only guidelines to abide. I have heard the chant for creative freedom all my life and it doesn't help. I have never understood freedom of expression in an item number.

Lines like 'tandoori chicken hoon main, mujhe chaba le' is straightforward gender bias. When a police officer lets his hair down while in his uniform, no matter how good the character is (as in the case of Salman Khan's Dabangg), people are having fun because public in India is simple. But, let's not blame them. Filmmakers have to be responsible," he says.

The new grading system will put films in various age-appropriate categories - 12+, 15+, 18+ and Universal. Explaining the logic, he says, "What seems titillating at 12 is a piece of art at 18. Above the age of 18, everything is permissible, be it excessive nudity, violence or abuses. If guidelines are misused, the film is triple A-rated and doesn't get license to be shown in public theatres. Expression has to be within constitutional rights. Filmmakers are free to go outside the country and make films if unhappy. The Polish, for the longest time, made movies in France. But, let's not make India look Draconian. We are not in that state; we are a democracy."

Mehra then cites the example of 1994 Seema Biswas-starrer Bandit Queen where Phoolan Devi is paraded naked after being raped. "You can't edit that because it will interfere with the filmmaker's subject. Nudity is not something to be glorified. But, it should be allowed to be consumed by age groups that can understand it from a mature perspective. No one is trying to make a porn film. When the intention is wrong, the committee can say no.

Of course, the producer can disagree and approach higher bodies like the Revising Committee, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal or the courts," he adds. Lamenting the string of incidents where filmmakers compete to "shout louder", Mehra says the CBFC is doing a "phenomenal" job, clearing three films a day. "The whole question of the Censor Board not seeing eye to eye with filmmakers must be put to rest. A joker's moral judgment cannot be the opinion of a body. Society is fast changing and such introspection has to be done every five years. Filmmakers must stop blaming the CBFC for everything - from delaying movies to curbing creativity," Mehra signs off.