Censored parts of films to stay off internet

March 3, 2016 - 11:21 AM IST

Earlier this year we witnessed the release of two rather controversial films viz. Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 and Mastizaade. Though both the films were adult sex comedies, a lot of portions fell under the axe during the censoring process. However, the said parts that failed to clear the cut from the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) found their way to the internet via Youtube.

Now we hear that the CBFC have decided to bar film-makers from releasing the excised portions to anybody, including on the Web. In fact, Assistant Solicitor General Chetan Mittal, on behalf of the I&B ministry and the censor board stated that as per the new rule, filmmakers will be required to furnish an undertaking to this effect.

This new decision came after a resumed hearing of a public interest litigation filed in January against the release of Mastizaade and Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 which sought to plug the loophole in the law, which restrains filmmakers from releasing censored portions in cinema halls or on television but is silent on the release of the material on the Internet.

Along with the litigation, the petitioner had attached a compact disc of scenes from the two films which were downloaded from YouTube and contended that the scenes were highly objectionable and vulgar. Following this the court had sought a response from the ministry and the censor board for the same. On examination of the CD it was discovered that the scenes were in fact deleted by the censor board and were no longer part of the films. Based on this the court directed the ministry to come up with a solution, which along with the censor board, arrived at the decision of taking the said undertaking from filmmakers instead of amending the law.