Artist Acharya says, 'Censorship should not be restricted in social and political topics.'
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Filmmakers have begun protesting against the government's move to introduce legislation that would tighten censorship and curtail the autonomy of the Film Development Board. They have commented that the government has brought in a retrograde bill that is a shadow of the nearly five-and-a-half-decade-old Films (Production, Exhibition and Distribution) Act.
Individuals and organizations related to film have already registered a petition with suggestions in the Bills Branch for amending the provisions of the ‘Bill to amend and consolidate the laws relating to cinema’ registered in the National Assembly on 17 Baisakh. Their reaction is that the government has brought the bill contrary to expectations that the new law will create a favorable environment for the rapid development of the Nepali film sector.
A brief conversation with artist Haribansh Acharya regarding the provisions proposed in the bill and its impact:
Did the incident where the censor board member told you, ‘You are fasting, bring cashew nuts’ make the question of censorship even more acute?
In particular, it was during the film ‘Tan Ta Saara Bigris Ni Badri’. At that time, we had to put money in an envelope as an allowance for those who were censored. Since the censor office was on time, they had to eat lunch themselves. It is not said that the producer will serve lunch or bring lunch. I think that offering lunch is a bribe.
Is that experience you had 25 years ago also with today's filmmakers?
It was stopped in the middle of lunch. But now it has started again. You can even serve tea. But distributing lunch is like having a feast. That is not practical either.
How does the restriction on creativity affect films?
Creative people should be allowed to express their views freely through films. Strictness should be imposed on issues like disrupting national integrity, ethnic harmony, disturbing national unity, and satirizing people with disabilities. But first of all, filmmakers should be given the right to freedom of expression. Censorship should not be restricted on social and political topics.
Those on the censor board also say that filmmakers do not understand films?
This has happened because of the political parties' division. There should be someone on the censor board who understands films. People including screenwriters who have contributed to the film industry for a few years should be brought there. Experts are needed more than political appointments. Experts understand the essence of the film and can analyze it accordingly. There are no people who understand films and literature there now.
There has also been a call for the Censor Board to be abolished, right?
Censor boards exist in almost every country. But there should be people who understand films there. There should not be a dominance of people appointed by the party. It is wrong for the party that is in power to have people from the same party on the Censor Board.
