Censor board's new rules: no slapping women, item numbers in films?

Films, item numbers and the regressive portrayal of women in films and television screens have often been blamed for building a popular culture that endorses the treatment of women as unequal citizens. But has the censor board changed the rules of the game and made it a rule not to depict any violence against women?

An unnamed source from the Central Board of Film Certification is quoted as saying in a report that they havebeen given a free hand to take action in cases where films are found to have violence against women, in order to make cinema a more responsible medium.

So no more cheering-leering at heroines dancing item numbers, no angry husbands slapping their wives over suspected slights and no more demeaning portrayal of women on screen, said the unnamed source.

However, for those worried about being deprived of item numbers in their films, the CEO of the board is quoted as saying that there are new rules being formulated.

“The CBFC is just cautious about depiction of violence on screen, and the context of the violence does matter. In a recent film, there is a scene of an old lady being pushed around by goons, which has been cleared only a day before,” Pankaja Thakur, CEO of CBFC was quoted as saying.

However, a report by PTI had indicated that the censor board is definitely planning to take more stringent steps against item songs in films and if certified as fit only for viewing by adults then it cannot be shown on television channels.