Leela Samson, the ex-chairperson of Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) wrote this post on her Facebook. And it’s going viral, for all the right reasons. We thought that it’s important for more people to read it. So we are sharing it here.
Udta Punjab – a film made by some of the country’s boldest and finest industrywalas! Yet another film and its slaughter at the hands of the CBFC – that is made into a national news item and flogged to death with opinions intended to fan more debate and endless hours of controversy. Have we not had enough? Enough opportunity to talk to each other, to debate the issues of certification and its down-face – censorship.
There are 3 parties involved. That’s already one too many. It should be just the industry and what should be an empathetic CBFC board. The board exists because cinema exists and is a critics art form, a creative platform for debate on the life we live.
But who appoints the Board? The members of the Viewing and Reviewing committees? The Ministry.
Who dictates which officials will be placed in Mumbai? The Ministry.
Who makes policy? The Ministry.
Who runs the Film Festivals? The Ministry.
Who sets up an Enquiry committee as was just done? The Ministry.
The point Anurag, is that the industry ought to know by now that this act of certification should be transferred to an internal body within the industry. Self regulation is the only regulation that should exist! This goes for every individual as well. Those who do not like it, should not see it.
Turn the switch off for heavens sake!
Art is not compulsory.
Get together.
Fight for it. It’s the good fight.
Everything else, boards, committees – they are a sham!
This is dhool in our eyes. Kuch nahin hoga.
I know you won’t see this Anurag, as we are not Facebook friends.
F.i.g.h.t C.l.u.b 
In general I might have agreed with Leela Samson, but when she was Chairperson, CBFC, my documentary was stopped by the CBFC. I wrote to her. She did not even bother to reply – and she’s supposed to be a friend !
So one very basic question. Who appointed her? What was she doing when she was the chairperson? Raising fingers is very easy????