TV actress and censor board member Mitaali Nag (Afsar Bitiye and Draupadi fame) talks about censors  and adult content on TV.

How has your censor board journey been so far?

Despite all the recent talk, it has been very exciting. I got a chance to review a couple of  good films by great film makers.

Should censorship be done away with?

No. If our govt has set certain guidelines, we need to follow. Censor should be more than just using your scissors. The best part of our board is that we are democratic in our functioning.  And this is needed for each person who may view a particular scene in a different way.  E.g. nudity and graphic violence might be ok, but for other’s it might be not. So after reviewing any film we have a threadbare discussion and if needed, register our protests as well formally. 

What is your view on the new proposed norm of allowing adult content on TV post 11 p.m.?

It should be allowed for India is evolving and folks even in small towns are anyways exposed to similar content online. The state is duty bound to protect kids from exposure to sex and violence, so watershed limit is a good thing. Ideally kids should be asleep by 11 p.m. Beyond that, if two adults want to watch adult content on TV, they should be allowed.   

Having said all that, we also need to appreciate the fact that India is known for its value system. I personally would not be comfortable watching love making scenes in company of my parents or in -laws. So a middle path needs to be found.  I guess the in-house channel SP (Standard and Practise) oversight is still the best way forward.

This new practice if introduced will bring new audiences to TV, which till now had been kept away due to the existing type of content. Our job is to mere certify if content is fit for general viewing or not, beyond that the viewers should be free to decide what he or she wishes to consume. Western TV has lots of hard core adult content. We will take a long time to reach there,  but yes we are progressing.  

Is not openly talking about sex against our Indian culture? 

Adult content is not only about sex. It includes many other things such as violence. It is just that we seem to make a hue and cry about sex. Once you cross 18 years of age,you can decide which party will rule your country. So there is much more on the plate.  And all said and done, today teenager’s don’t wait till becoming major’s before their first sexual encounter, experimentation starts at an early age.

Good that you mention adult content is not just about sex, so can we as nation be ready for TV show’s which reflect contemporary unsavoury realties of our nation?

Yes for our people are more politically and socially matured. It is just till now we have played safe and in this even viewers need to shoulder certain responsibility as well. For they seem to reject any content which goes beyond the pale of the tried and tested.

Can we risk lampooning political leaders as in the west?

No comments.  

Lastly, what is your take on Mr. Shayam Benegal revised censor board guidelines?

We have not yet received it officially. Mr. Benegal is an industry doyen and he will take decisions keeping in mind creative freedom.  So if we are asked to follow them, I will be more than happy.
 

-A. M