Confusion reigns in film circles

People in film circles believe it is not clear if the screening or banning of films will vary in different provinces.

LAHORE: Governing the production, censorship and exhibition of films is now in the hands of provinces after the abolishment of the Concurrent List in the 18th Amendment. However, there is still a great deal of confusion about the new set-up which should come into existence by May 2011.

The Federal Ministry of Culture is yet to inform provincial culture departments about these issues and so far no development has taken place either on the federal or the provincial governments’ part to devise a mechanism to deal with the screening and censorship of films.

People in film circles believe that it is not clear yet if the screening of films will vary in different provinces or the decision of banning a particular film in a province will be applicable on other provinces as well.

They believe that it is possible that Sindh may allow the screening of Indian films as Punjabi films don’t have a market there while Punjab might not allow screening of several Indian films, with the justification that there are enough local Punjabi films to cater to the needs of cinema houses.

Presently, the Central Board of Film Censors clears films for screening across the country. The exhibition and production of films is also currently a federal subject and is dealt with by the Ministry of Culture.

However, officials could not provide any clear answer as to how this issue will be dealt with on a provincial level. If the Central Board of Films Censors is abolished, provincial censor boards will have to be established, a process which requires considerable time and effort.

However planning for such a move is not underway at the provincial or federal level.

The Ministry of Culture has announced that Indian films will not be released on Eid,  however film exhibitors have already found a way to deal with this situation. Cinemas have released We Are Family before Eid and will screen it.

Farah Deeba, a member of the Culture and Youth Affairs Committee and Member of Provincial Assembly, told The Express Tribune that this issue had not been discussed by the Punjab government as yet, and that these issues would be taken up with concerned authorities. Deeba, who is the late legend Rangeela’s daughter, said that the rules need to be amended regarding screening and censoring of films in order to block ‘immoral content’.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2010.