Lok Sabha Question No. 3440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Misrepresentation of History through Film
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3440 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2018

## MISREPRESENTATION OF HISTORY THROUGH FILMS

## 3440:  SHRI ALOK SANJAR:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  history  of  the  country  is  being misrepresented through the films;
- (b) if so, the details of the complaints received by the Government during the last three  years  and  the  current  year  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government thereon; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to impart value based moral education to the children through television serials?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]:

(a) & (b): The CBFC certifies films in accordance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 and the guidelines issued thereunder. The guidelines issued under Section 5B(2) of the Cinematograph Act stipulates that the CBFC shall ensure that a film:

- is judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impact.
- is  examined  in  the  light  of  the  period  depicted  in  the  film  and  the contemporary standards of the country and the people to whom the film relates, provided that the film does not deprave the morality of the audience.

Further,  in  accordance  with  Rule  41(4)  of  the  Cinematograph  (Certification) Rules, 1983, if warranted CBFC asks the applicant to furnish the script and authentic sources/documents  on  which  the  subject  of  his  film  is  based  in  order  to  ensure  the correctness of the incidents depicted in the film.

(c):  It  is  stated  that  as  per  existing  regulatory  framework,  the  programmes  and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV  channels  are regulated as per Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules framed thereunder. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship  of  the  programmes  and  advertisements  aired  on  these  channels. However, all these channels are required to adhere to the said codes. The said codes contain a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements on TV channels. The Programme Code includes certain provisions pertaining to child-related issues such as Rule 6(1) (l) which provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which 'denigrates children', Rule 6(4) 'Care should be taken to ensure that  programmes  meant  for  children  do  not  contain  any  bad  language  or  explicit scenes of violence', and Rule 6(5) 'programmes unsuitable for children must not be carried in the cable service at times when the largest numbers of children are viewing' and Rule 7(7) of the Advertising Code also contains provisions related to child-related issues which stipulates that 'No advertisement which endangers the safety of children or creates in them any interest in unhealthy practices or shows them begging or in an undignified or indecent manner shall not be carried in the cable service'.

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