The Censor Board applies very strict rules for indie filmmakers but is liberal with big, moneyed Bollywood. So Chal Chaliye, a short film, has to do away with its measly two kissing scenes to get a U/A certificate, while Kambakkht Ishq, also a U/A, has been publicising its "10 kisses"
The Censor Board applies very strict rules for indie filmmakers but is liberal with big, moneyed Bollywood. So Chal Chaliye, a short film, has to do away with its measly two kissing scenes to get a U/A certificate, while Kambakkht Ishq, also a U/A, has been publicising its "10 kisses"
Even while audiences thought that the Indian censor board and the film industry was becoming more mature about showing kissing onscreen, Sunday MiD DAY has learnt that short-film director Tanmay Agarwal has been advised an adult (A) rating over a mere two kisses. The preview committee at the Censor Board that watched Agarwal's film Chal Chaliye, a short film about love and marriage, felt that the kisses merited an A certificate, over a U/A, which allows children accompanied by adults. 
Ironically, the Akshay Kumar-Kareena Kapoor starrer Kambakkht Ishq that hit theatres this Friday has a U/A rating, despite the fact that its makers have boasted ofu00a0 '10 kisses' between its lead actors in its pre-publicity. Even the recently-released New York, that had John Abraham and Katrina Kaif between satin sheets in one scene, had a U/A certificate.
Why does the Censor Board have different rules for Bollywood? Do bigger filmmakers and budgets allow for flouting of rules? Kambakkht Ishq isn't the only example Raja Hindustani, Neil N Nikki, Dhoom 2, Rang De Basanti, Guru, Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Jab We Met, Kis Kis Ki Kismat, Hello, Bachna Ae Haseeno and almost every Emraan Hashmi film have had kissing scenes.
Nearly all English films have kisses, even the Disney ones. What is the Censor Board's logic? Ironically, even its chief Sharmila Tagore's son Saif Ali Khan is quite a kisser. See Salaam Namaste, Ek Haseena Thi or Hum Tum, while his forthcoming Love Aaj Kal and Qurbaan are also rumoured to have kisses.
'I was taken aback'
Agarwal is no B-grade producer trying to elbow his film through. An FTII graduate, he has been a cinematographer for 15 years and teaches film at Whistling Woods school. He has worked in documentary cinema and on Rakesh Sharma's acclaimed film Final Solution. Agarwal points out that Chal Chaliye is not even remotely titillating compared to the writhing, thrusting and gyrating you see in Hindi film songs. Instead, the film is a sensitive love story that catches a boy and a girl at the moment of the eternal question, 'Will you marry me?'
Says Agarwal, "The formal ruling I've received is that delete all kissing scenes for a U or U/A rating, or settle for an A. I was taken aback by the ruling. I didn't think a kiss was out of the ordinary. But here, they were checking kitna lamba hai, kitna tight shot hai. The kiss is in context; it is telling a story." Agarwal explains that apart from restricting his audiences, the A rating spoils his chances for a televised viewing. "After all, I've made a young love story. What will a 40-year-old do with the story of a 20-year-old?"
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Your ten seconds are up
It seems even the length of the kiss is scrutinised by the preview committee. It was informally suggested by one member that Agarwal shorten the ten-second kiss in his film.
Incidentally, Raja Hindustani had Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor smooch for over 30 seconds in multiple shots,
Hum Tum had Saif and Rani Mukherjee over ten seconds in its shot, while Neil N Nikki and 1942: A Love Story had 13-second kisses.u00a0u00a0u00a0
No rules for kissing
Protesting the decision, the director has shot off letters to chief Sharmila Tagore and Regional Officer Vinayak Azad. The Regional Officer points out there are no specific rules for kissing on film. Turns out, this is the arbitrary decision of a preview committee that Azad can't overrule, even if he feels the kisses "are no big deal" himself.
"Even if I agree with the filmmaker, I'm constrained by procedure. I don't even see 20 per cent of what releases. There are several preview committees made up from a 100 panel members. We're not film critics, nor the moral police. We don't endorse films, we only categorise. There are no guidelines for kissing, we see the overall impact of the scene. The preview committee has their own take, with members of varying backgrounds. It's a flaw in the system."
One for which Agarwal has to pay, for no fault of his. Azad has advised Agarwal to reapply to a different preview committee, but this comes with a fee. Agarwal says the least that the Censor Board can do is pay that fee for reapplication. "It's the principal of the thing. Why this discrimination?"
The Regional Officer has written to the IB ministry asking that the system be changed because they are too dependant on committees and individual choices. "I've also asked that a consumer advisory be put for strong language," Azad explains.
Until then, the Censor Board will continue with its arbitrary and unfathomable decisions.u00a0
What U/A means
Overall, the Censor Board takes into consideration whether the movie is adult material. If it has jokes and isn't such a serious film, the Board goes easy. This effectively means that objectionable, vulgar comedy can get passed, but sensitive, serious films that could be an eye-opener for teenaged audiences get the cut. Which is why you will see six and seven-year-olds sitting down in theatres and watching completely suggestive material. "Problem is that a U/A rated movie isn't a family film u2013 it is an altogether different category. In India, we don't understand the difference, so the I&B ministry has to change that. It is a caution to kids. Parents have to decide whether to take their children or not. It does suggest violent or intimate scenes," says Vinayak Azad.
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