tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555887833232019435.post1743843437242666270..comments2024-03-23T23:13:14.119+05:30Comments on annavetticadgoes2themovies: TALKING POINT: MINDLESS FILM & TV CENSORSHIP IN INDIA / COLUMN PUBLISHED IN THE INDIAN QUARTERLYAnna MM Vetticadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08672605004762355462noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555887833232019435.post-10880902370195820032014-09-06T13:18:40.574+05:302014-09-06T13:18:40.574+05:30This is self styled censorship and moral policing ...This is self styled censorship and moral policing by the private TV channels which is worse than our censor board. The other day they censored the word 'sex' and blurred out a woman's cleavage in the film Queen. On VH1 they routinely censor the most harmless everyday language and scenes. In a song by Maroon 5 (Maps) they blurred out the face of an accident victim. In another song by Meghan Trainor (All about that Bass) they censored the word 'Booty.' But on Bollywood music channels they have no qualms in playing the song 'Punjabiyan di Tooh' (from Gori Tere Pyaar Mein). Tooh and Booty means the same thing - HIPS.<br /><br />Worst thing is both in the film Queen and the song by Meghan Trainor the words 'sex' and 'booty' were used in very important contexts which give out positive messages to women. Censoring these words ruins the context. While the Tooh song is nothing but cheap vulgarity, with words like 'gore gore (fair fair) naughty naughy tooh, shake that tooh'<br /><br />We are a nation that celebrates a man like Honey Singh, who sings about the pleasure of raping and beating women. But we censor the word sex in a strong women oriented film.<br /><br />Where is our sensibilities? With this level of misplaced censorship what kind of conscience building are we doing for our children?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555887833232019435.post-43052066049052642552014-04-07T13:26:23.249+05:302014-04-07T13:26:23.249+05:30The US rating system that you mention was actually...The US rating system that you mention was actually followed by English movie channels as well as Hindi movie channels for a while in the 90s. Star Movies, in fact, displayed the rating - 'G', 'PG', '15', or '18' as the case might be - on the top right corner of the screen, right along with the logo. That was, of course, the time when even some Hindi TV serials had no compunction showing a kissing scene.<br /><br />I've always wondered why they gave up that system and started outright censoring stuff. Maybe the channels weren't strictly under the purview of I&B Ministry. Perhaps the scrolling messages at the bottom of the screen, encouraging viewers to report any objectionable content to the authorities, has put the channels on guard. After the temporary ban on Comedy Central last year - over jokes on stand up comedy and candid cam shows, of all things - I think channels are especially wary of the capricious authorities.Deepti Sharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09462873637851411701noreply@blogger.com