Censor as a system should be abolished: Ram Gopal Varma

New Delhi, Nov 29: National Award-winning filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma feels the concept of censor board seems irrelevant in today's times of instant information.

Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani has come under fire for shortening the kiss in the latest James Bond film "Spectre". Varma, said that he feels Nihalani is "eventually" doing his job and it is the body, which needs to be done away with.

"Today anybody with their cellphone can access porn if they are interested. In that kind of digital world we are living in, four-five people sitting and deciding for the rest of the country what they should watch or what they should not watch is the most ridiculous thing.

"I also agree to a point that he (Pahlaj) is eventually doing a job, going by the guidelines and rules... I think censor as a system should be abolished," Varma said on the sidelines of Times Lit Fest. The 53-year-old director-producer feels the level of censorship differs with changing team members of CBFC. He recalled when his 1998 hit "Satya" was censored, the censor board retained cuss words, as the members felt they were an integral part of the film.

"When 'Satya' was censored, for the first time they (Censor) allowed the cuss words because they felt it was very much a part of the film and taking them away would be destroying the fabric of the film. That particular thing happened with those particular members.

"Another set of members would have felt something different. When 'Bandit Queen' was censored, lots of cuts were asked. When Shekhar (Kapur) went to revising committee, they wanted to ban the film. When he went to tribunal, they said release it as it is without any cut.

So, three set of members have opposite views. that itself is a big problem..." When asked if the problem lies with with the larger government policies, Varma replied, "Yes. The very act is too outdated."

PTI