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Category: I&B Ministry

  • Benegal Committee on film certification invites public views within guidelines’ ambit

    Benegal Committee on film certification invites public views within guidelines’ ambit

    NEW DELHI: The Shyan Benegal Committee examining the certification process followed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) set up early this month has sought the views and suggestions of the public in this regard.

     

    While noting that the views should be restricted to two pages covering all important aspects, the notice on the Information and Broadcasting Ministry website says the comments must be “within the ambit of the existing Act, Rules and guidelines, which have withstood the scrutiny of various Courts.”

     

    The comments may be forwarded to NFDC to rajani@nfdcindia.com.               

     

    The notice also gives the terms of reference of the Committee and says the guidelines are expected to provide aholistic interpretation of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act and the Rules.The present guidelines have also been reproduced in the notice.

     

    The other Members of the Committee include filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, creative director Piyush Pandey, media veteran Bhawana Somayya, NFDC MD Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy as Member Convenor. The Committee has been requested to submit its recommendations within two months.  

     

    Interestingly, although media reports had indicated that Gautam Ghose and Kamal Haasan had been included as members at the request of Benegal, the notice on the Ministry website makes no mention of this. 

     

    When setting up the Committee in later in a meeting with I&B Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore and Secretary Sunil Arora, it had been stated that the aim was to suggest a paradigm that ensures that artistic creativity and freedom do not get stifled/curtailed even as films are certified.

     

    Noting that “in most countries of the world there is a mechanism/process of certifying feature films and documentaries,” an official release had also said that the attempt should also be that “the people tasked with the work of certification understand these nuances.”

     

    The recommendations of this Committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework. 

     

    During their deliberations, the Committee would be expected to take note of the best practices in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression. 

     

    The Committee would recommend broad guidelines / procedures under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952 / Rules for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the Screening Committee. The staffing pattern of Central Board of Film Certification would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework which would provide efficient / transparent user friendly services. 

     

    This is not the first time that such a committee has been set up. After earlier attempts, the last Committee that examined similar issues was headed by the eminent Mukul Mudgal. However, no action has been taken on that report submitted in 2013.

  • Benegal Committee on film certification invites public views within guidelines’ ambit

    Benegal Committee on film certification invites public views within guidelines’ ambit

    NEW DELHI: The Shyan Benegal Committee examining the certification process followed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) set up early this month has sought the views and suggestions of the public in this regard.

     

    While noting that the views should be restricted to two pages covering all important aspects, the notice on the Information and Broadcasting Ministry website says the comments must be “within the ambit of the existing Act, Rules and guidelines, which have withstood the scrutiny of various Courts.”

     

    The comments may be forwarded to NFDC to rajani@nfdcindia.com.               

     

    The notice also gives the terms of reference of the Committee and says the guidelines are expected to provide aholistic interpretation of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act and the Rules.The present guidelines have also been reproduced in the notice.

     

    The other Members of the Committee include filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, creative director Piyush Pandey, media veteran Bhawana Somayya, NFDC MD Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy as Member Convenor. The Committee has been requested to submit its recommendations within two months.  

     

    Interestingly, although media reports had indicated that Gautam Ghose and Kamal Haasan had been included as members at the request of Benegal, the notice on the Ministry website makes no mention of this. 

     

    When setting up the Committee in later in a meeting with I&B Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore and Secretary Sunil Arora, it had been stated that the aim was to suggest a paradigm that ensures that artistic creativity and freedom do not get stifled/curtailed even as films are certified.

     

    Noting that “in most countries of the world there is a mechanism/process of certifying feature films and documentaries,” an official release had also said that the attempt should also be that “the people tasked with the work of certification understand these nuances.”

     

    The recommendations of this Committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework. 

     

    During their deliberations, the Committee would be expected to take note of the best practices in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression. 

     

    The Committee would recommend broad guidelines / procedures under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952 / Rules for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the Screening Committee. The staffing pattern of Central Board of Film Certification would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework which would provide efficient / transparent user friendly services. 

     

    This is not the first time that such a committee has been set up. After earlier attempts, the last Committee that examined similar issues was headed by the eminent Mukul Mudgal. However, no action has been taken on that report submitted in 2013.

  • Shyam Benegal favours dedicated science & tech TV channel to promote scientific temper

    Shyam Benegal favours dedicated science & tech TV channel to promote scientific temper

    NEW DELHI: Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal has stressed the need for a 24-hour dedicated science & technology television channel to promote scientific temper in the country. 

     

    Addressing a press conference about the upcoming National Science Film Festival at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai, Benegal said,  “A dedicated TV channel will go a long way in helping spread scientific temper and rational thinking among the citizens.”

     

    He said such a channel is the need of the hour to highlight issues on science, technology, environment, health and hygiene among other things.

     

    “A 24 hour S&T TV channel will be a fitting tribute to late Narendra Dabhgolkar who laid down his life in the pursuit of spreading scientific temper and creating a rational society,” Benegal added.

     

    Benegal complimented the Nehru Science Centre and Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous body under the Science and Technology Ministry for joining hands to organise the 6th National Science Film Festival in Mumbai from 9 to 13 February. 

     

    He said 45 films have been shortlisted to be screened during the festival. “The jury was pleasantly surprised to see quality films that have been made by professionals and school students. Most of the films, some from remote areas of the country, touch upon the local issues of environment, livelihoods, health and local innovation,” he said. 

     

    The winning films will be honoured with the Silver Beaver Awards and cash prizes. 

     

    Benegal is the chairperson of the National Jury. The other members of the jury include senior writer and art director Shama Zaidi; film editor Aseem Sinha; Prof. Iftekhar Ahmad, who is the director of AJK MCRC, New Delhi; Prasar Bharati Additional Director General Aparna Vaish; Dr Sabyasachi Bhattacharya who is a professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; film historian and curator Amrit Gangar; filmmaker Aruna Raje Patil, filmmaker and environmentalist Anil P. Joshi.

     

    Professional workshops on science film making will also be organised during NSFF 2016 in which renowned science film makers will share their experience with the participants. Film enthusiast can participate in the workshop by filling up an online application form at www.vigyanprasar.gov.in.

  • Kamal Haasan, Gautam Ghose join Benegal’s committee on film certification

    Kamal Haasan, Gautam Ghose join Benegal’s committee on film certification

    NEW DELHI: Filmmaker Gautam Ghose and actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan have been added to the Committee headed by Shyam Benegal to suggest a paradigm that ensures that artistic creativity and freedom do not get stifled/curtailed even as films are certified.

     

    Benegal said it had been felt that more regions of the country should be given representation on the panel.

     

    The Committee had over the weekend held its first meeting with Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore, and Secretary Sunil Arora.

     

    The other Members of the Committee include filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, creative director Piyush Pandey, media veteran Bhawana Somayya, National Film Development Corporation MD Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy as Member Convenor. The Committee has been requested to submit its recommendations within two months.  

     

    When setting up the Committee on New Year’s Day, the Ministry had said that “in most countries of the world there is a mechanism/process of certifying feature films and documentaries,” an official release also said that the attempt should also be that “the people tasked with the work of certification understand these nuances.”

     

    The recommendations of this Committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework. 

     

    The note said Indian films have a glorious history and a whole lot of Indian films have enriched the cultural milieu of the country besides making astonishing advances in technical aspects of film making.

     

    During their deliberations, the Committee would be expected to take note of the best practices in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression.

     

    The Committee will recommend broad guidelines and procedures under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952, Rules for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the Screening Committee. The staffing pattern of Central Board of Film Certification would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework, which would provide efficient and transparent user friendly services.

  • MIB grants provisional licences to 12 MSOs as DAS Phase III gets going

    MIB grants provisional licences to 12 MSOs as DAS Phase III gets going

    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has granted provisional licences to another 12 multi system operators (MSOs) after 1 January, 2016 in a bid to help expedite the implementation of Phase III of digital addressable system (DAS) in all urban areas in the country.

     

    The number of MSOs that have received provisional licences has now gone up to 424, from 412 on 1 January, which had proved lucky for 30 MSOs as they got their provisional licences in a single day. In fact, once again, all the 12 MSOs got their licences on a single day – 12 January. So far, January has seen as many as 42 MSOs getting provisional licences.

     

    An earlier list had put the figure at 382 provisional licensees on 31 December, 2015 the day the analogue signals were to be switched off, showing 45 new MSOs had been added in the last fortnight of 2015.

     

    Adding to the 230 who have 10-year permanent licences, the total number of registered MSOs now goes up to 654.

     

    While the MIB website did not display the number of permanent licensees, indicating that the number remains at 230 as it has remained since 20 November.

     

    With the Home Ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

     

    The new licensees covering 11 states include one MSOs in the northeast for Tripura, but it also includes two MSOs in Tamil Nadu and one in Chhattisgarh where DAS Phase III remains stayed.

     

    The other states covered include states like Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Padesh, and Kerala.

     

    The number of MSOs was 612 on 31 December, 567 in mid-December, 553 by 24 November and 470 earlier in November, but this increase was merely in those who have provisional licences.

     

     

    Sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

     
  • MIB advises broadcast company applicants to track status on STATS

    MIB advises broadcast company applicants to track status on STATS

    NEW DELHI: All companies in the broadcasting sector, whose applications are pending with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, were today advised to track the status of their applications through the STATS (Satellite TV Channels Application Tracking System).

     

    This was in relation to uplinking and downlinking of TV channels, teleport operations and news agencies.

     

    The Ministry said each company has already been given a password and login ID.

     

    The I&B Ministry said that if there were difficulties in accessing the portal, an e-mail could be sent to the Under Secretary, TV(I) for rectification. Additionally, if any pending application did not figure on the Ministry’s website, the concerned companies could intimate Director (BC) for remedial action.

  • MIB will give greater operational flexibility to Films Division: Arora

    MIB will give greater operational flexibility to Films Division: Arora

    NEW DELHI: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) Secretary Sunil Arora has urged the Directors in the Films Division to prepare a concept note on steps to be taken to promote quality documentary and short film making.

     

    In a review meeting of the Division ahead of the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival in the western metropolis, he also stressed on the need for the Films Division to improve its distribution and reach. 

     

    Recalling the rich heritage and experience in filmmaking of the Films Division, he said, “The creative output of the media unit should be reinvigorated and sustained.“

     

    Calling for greater cooperation in creative pursuits, Arora said, “People should not work in silos, creative organisations grow only when ideas and information sharing is as free as possible.“

     

    The 14th Mumbai International Film Festival is to be held in the city from 28 January to 3 February.

     

    Arora also asked Director General Mukesh Sharma to explore possibilities of utilising the social media platform. Stating that content is king, Arora promised that the Ministry would look into issues of granting operational flexibility.

     

    The Films Division was set up in 1948, primarily to produce documentaries and news magazines focusing on cultural and development issues. Besides producing films in house, the Films Division also commissions documentaries and short films from outside producers. Sixty-six such short films and documentaries are now in various stages of production.

     

    The Films Division also organises the biennial Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentaries, Animation & Short Films.  

     

    The 2016 edition of MIFF will feature 30 films in the international competition section and 27 films in the national competition section, besides 32 films in the New Media Competition.

  • Artistic creativity shouldn’t get curtailed while certifying films: Jaitley

    Artistic creativity shouldn’t get curtailed while certifying films: Jaitley

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley today said artistic creativity and freedom should not get curtailed while certifying feature films or documentaries.

     

    At the same time, he noted that there is a mechanism in most countries of the world for certifying films and documentaries. 

     

    Addressing members of the Shyam Benegal Committee set up on New Year’s Day to examine the present guidelines, he said the film certification guidelines need contemporary interpretation and they should be made as non discretionary as possible.

     

    Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore was confident that the Committee of Experts under the chairmanship of Benegal would provide a holistic framework for interpretation of the provisions of Cinematograph Act 1952 and Rules that could help the Chairperson and other members of the Central Board of Film Certification Screening Committee.

     

    Benegal said there is a need to move towards a new system of grading films in terms of age, maturity, sensibility and sensitivity instead of censorship. 

     

    The two Ministers and I&B Secretary Sunil Arora held wide ranging interaction with the Committee in Mumbai today. 

     

    The Ministry had asked the Committee to recommend broad guidelines for certification of films by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

     

    Other members of the Committee including filmmaker Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra, advertising and communication expert Piyush Pandey, veteran film journalist Bhawana Somayaa, NFDC managing director Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy were present.

     

    The Committee will study the existing procedure being followed by the CBFC for certification of original films, their dubbed versions as well as recertification of films for screening on other media platforms. 

     

    The Committee will also study various directives of courts as well as notifications issued by other Government agencies like the Health & Family Welfare Ministry, Environment & Forests Ministry, and Animal Welfare Board of India etc, which have a bearing on the process of film certification. 

     

    The staffing pattern of CBFC would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework, which would provide transparent and user friendly services.

  • Gajendra Chauhan assumes office at FTII amidst protests; BP Singh to head Academic Council

    Gajendra Chauhan assumes office at FTII amidst protests; BP Singh to head Academic Council

    NEW DELHI: Gajendra Chauhan, whose appointment in the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) had led to a furore some months earlier, today formally took over as chairman of the premier body.
     
    There was slogan-shouting and protests by students as he entered the premise in Pune for the first meeting of the newly appointed FTII Society and the Governing Council in Pune and some students were taken away by the police.
     
    Chauhan is chairman of the Governing Council and President of the FTII Society.
     
    However in an attempt to meet one of the demands of the agitating students, television producer-director Brijendra Pal Singh, who was elected as the vice president of the Society and vice chairman of the Governing Council, will head the Academic Council as chairman.  
     
    An alumni of FTII, Singh is noted for his series CID, which is one of the longest running television series in India.
     
    The meeting of the Society was attended by its Chauhan, additional secretary and financial advisor Dr Subhash Sharma, director Rajkumar Hirani, producer-director B. P. Singh, actors Satish Shah and Rahul Solapurkar, and Information and Broadcasting Ministry Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy.
     
    Anagha Ghaisas, Narendra Pathak, film critic Bhawana Somaiyya, Urmil Thapliyal and Pranjal Saikia were also present at the meeting. 
     
    The ex-officio members included Films Division DG Mukesh Sharma, FTII director Prashant Pathrabe, Ministry OSD Chaitanya Prasad, Children’s Films Society, India, CEO Shravan Kumar, and Satyajit Ray FTII director Sanjay Pattnayak.
     
    The Society also decided to nominate Hirani, Singh, Shah, Saikia, Pathak and Somaiyya to the Governing Council.
     
    The GC also approved the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of the Institute for 2013-14 & 2014-15. The Revised Estimates for 2015-2016 and Budget Estimates for 2016-17 were also sanctioned at the meeting.
     
    Addressing Staff members on arrival, Chauhan said he would do his best to solve the problems of the Institution including the longstanding demand of pension for the staff.  
  • MIB grants 30 provisional MSO licences on 1 January to push DAS Phase III

    MIB grants 30 provisional MSO licences on 1 January to push DAS Phase III

    NEW DELHI: Even as almost six states now have received two months’ extension from their respective High Courts to implement Phase III of Digital Addressable System (DAS), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting granted provisional licences to as many as 30 multi-system operators (MSOs) on New Year’s Day (1 January) in a bid to push cable TV digitisation.

     

    With the new licenses granted, the total number MSOs holding provisional licenses has jumped from 382 to 412 in a single day.

     

    An earlier list had put the figure at 382 provisional licensees on 31 December, the day the analogue signals were to be switched off in Phase III that covers all urban areas in the country, showing 45 new MSOs had been added in the last fortnight of 2015.

     

    Adding to the 230, who have 10-year permanent licences, the total number of registered MSOs now goes up to 642.

     

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry website did not display the number of permanent licensees, indicating that the number remains at 230 as it has remained since 20 November.

     

    But this slow pace is in direct contradiction to the fact that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had nearly seven months earlier announced that it was aiming to do away with security clearances for MSOs.

     

    The new licensees covering 11 states include two MSOs namely Hashmee Cable Network and Vaadi Television, who have got provisional licences in Jammu and Kashmir.

     

    The other MSOs are from states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu where the implementation of DAS Phase III has been extended by varying periods. These are: Yuvaraj Cable and Anantha City Digital Comm. Network from AP; Hi – Tech Communication Network from Telangana; Rainbow Digitech, Sangli Media Communication, World Vision Cable Network, Chikhali Cable Network, Shah Cable Network, Shree Balaji Cable Network, TK Cable Network, Alone Cable Network, Amarnath Cable Network and Creative Cable Network from Maharashtra; and Tiruvannamalai Cable Network and Amoga Digital Netcom from Tamil Nadu.

     

    MSOs who have received licenses from the state of Uttar Pradesh are: Netvision Elegant Networks, V.B Distribution Cable Network, Welcome Cable Network and Jagjeet Cable TV Network; from Rajasthan are: Shekhawati Cable Networks, Om Cable Network, Kankroli Digital Network and Jaisal Cable Vision; and from Chhattisgarh are: CCN Digital Network and Vande Mahamaya Cable Network.

     

    Additionally, one MSO each from MP, Haryana and Karnataka namely Yash Cable Network, ABC News Palwal and RST Digital Media Services respectively received the provisional licenses.

     

    The number of MSOs was 612 on 31 December, 567 in mid-December, 553 by 24 November and 470 earlier in November, but this increase was merely in those who have provisional licences.

     

    Sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.