Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has been given an A certificate by the censors in India but the film has also prompted a rethink in the Board about the existing ratings system
Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has impacted people across the world in many ways. In India, it may lead to the introduction of altogether new rating.
Unhappy with the A rating that they have given to the film, members of the censor board say they are now lobbying for a new category of certification to be called U/AA.
This rating, if introduced will be applied on films which though contain violence and sex, also carry a message that deserves to be seen by a wider audience.
“The Passion of the Christ is one such film, “ says board member Anjan Srivastava. “It has universal historical facts which should be shown even to the educational institutions but as the film is visually very violent for children, we had to give it an A certificate.”
However the furious debate that led to this decision has also led to the rethink. The U/AA will be for universal viewing but “strictly under parental or educational institutional guidance”.
“Today, our cinema has become international and we have to revive our stand on censorship”, added Srivastava, speaking on behalf of his colleagues. The proposal by the board members will be tabled before CBFC chief Anupam Kher on his return from London next fortnight.
The proposal has met with approval from within Bollywood. “I am impressed by the Censor Board insights and its brave move to kind of step out of its moorings and think of coining a new category”, said filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.
“It is only when the Censor Board will engage in such novel practices as this will they will be able to keep in sync with the times and do justice to the filmmaker and to the nation at large and also correct its own battered image,” he added.