“Adult with Caution”, or A/C, is the new category suggested by the Shyam Benegal-led panel for movies that involve excessive adult content. The recommendation is one of many submitted by the government-appointed committee that was formed to revamp the Central Bureau of Film Certification, PTI reported.
In addition to the A/C category, the panel has suggested two classifications under the Universal under Adult Supervision, or U/A, rating – U/A 12+ and U/A 15+. The U/A rating mandates parental guidance for children to watch movies classified under it.
Benegal, however, clarified that the committee has only submitted an interim report to the Centre, not a final report. “I can’t reveal too much. There is another report that we will submit in three-four days. The government will take the final call,” he said, adding that the report will be ready “well before” the June 20 deadline.
The CBFC, or the censor board as it is more popularly known, has been embroiled in a controversial row over the release of Shahid Kapoor-starrer Udta Punjab. The board’s recommended list of cuts for the movie has been widely criticised and was also taken to court, where it was questioned. CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani also has been under fire for claiming that Anurag Kashyap, one of the film's producers, had taken money from the Aam Aadmi Party to paint the state in poor light. The film deals with the subject of drug abuse in India.
The committee headed by Benegal was formed in January to revamp the censor board, after Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley expressed his wish for a controversy-free CBFC. On Udta Punjab, Benegal said on Thursday that is was a well-made film and not an anti-Punjab one either.
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