This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Last night, I was reading about this documentary on MPAA ratings. In the Guardian Review, there is a very good observation and which I find very correct too.
Some cynics say that the purpose of commercial cinema, like that of the press, is to over-stimulate the public's infotainment gland, and leave residual unsatisfied desire - so that the advertisers can sell their product.
Contrary to the title, this film got NC-17 for its graphic sexual content. More reviews here.
When you see all this in Indian context, things become little murky and look like a big hogwash. Indian Film Censor Board has only three ratings, U, UA, A - too broad to make any sense . From the rating system, one thing is definitely clear is that our kids take one year more to mature than their American conterparts. To compare how they work we can see 3 recent movies, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna was U, Golmaal was UA and Omkara was A. Gunda was also given A certificate. What difference does it makes. Omkara can be a UA or U, if it removes those gaalis. Last time when my relatives came to Hyderabad with their kids, we discussed which movie to see. My aunt wanted to see Omkara, but to her big embarrassment, her kids cried in chorus, its an adult movie. We went to Golmaal instead. This reminds me of a joke about the MPAA R rating which forces the parents and the kids to see the movie together, embarrassing both.
Take a look at the site of Central Board of Film Certification. To me its seems a little funny.
2 comments:
CBFC...aaargh.
I definitely plan to see that docu. There are a few things as comical - and worthless - than a "censor board" trying to protect the dignity of a country's people.
I was thinking about the mental state of ppl, who would have reviewed it, while they were watching it :)... even for some of them, it would have been a revelation ...
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