Film Censorship to be Simplified, Board Formulates New Procedure by Removing 8 Points

Kathmandu. To make film censorship easier, the Central Film Censorship Committee (Film Censor Board) has introduced a new censorship procedure titled ‘Film Examination Procedure 2082’.

With the introduction of the new procedure, it is expected that various errors existing in the censorship process will be resolved. This procedure has already come into effect from Poush 2.

Uday Bahadur Rana, Chairman of the Censor Board, stated that the new procedure was brought to make the film censorship process more organized, transparent, and hassle-free.

"We have revised the points to remove procedural complexities of the Censor Board and correct old errors," he said. "It is an effort to make the process timely at a time when questions are being raised over censorship." 

He mentioned that the new procedure would make film censorship much easier for filmmakers. "The main objective of this procedure is to organize the Censor Board and provide convenience to filmmakers," said Ranamagar.

In the ‘Film Examination Procedure-2082’ brought by the Board, some matters regarding meetings have been revised. In point number 4 of the meeting arrangements, sub-clause (3) provides that if the tenure of an expert member has expired and a new one hasn't been appointed, a film expert member can be invited for censorship from a roster prepared by the Ministry in coordination with the Film Development Board. This has addressed the demand for the presence of experts in film censorship.

Similarly, in point number 4 of the procedure regarding ‘Bases taken while requesting permission and examination by the committee’, the Board has reduced the 20 points of the old procedure to 12 points by removing 8 points. Various cumbersome points and those already amended by the Constitution have been removed now.

Revisions have also been made to several points, including unnecessary cruel and heinous violence against animals and birds, obscenity or unnatural sexual activities, protection and promotion of human rights, and the intent of film scenes and dialogues.

Development of Self-Censorship System

The Board has also developed a system of self-examination (self-censorship) to make it easier for filmmakers to censor their films. For that, the Board has also arranged a form. Through this, filmmakers will be able to identify the errors seen from the censorship perspective in their films themselves.

Board Chairman Rana Magar stated that submitting films under self-censorship would make film censorship easier and save the time of both the Censor Board and the filmmakers by freeing them from various hassles.

"We have taken self-censorship as a system for filmmakers to identify and correct the errors in their films themselves," he said. "This frees the Censor Board and filmmakers from the situation of facing unnecessary hassles." Rana believes that self-censorship will also make it easier for filmmakers to obtain censorship certificates.