September 30, 2025 • 27 mins
First, we talk to The Indian Express' Jay Mazoomdaar about an investigation carried out by The Indian Express on the Central Board of Film Certification. Here we discuss how the CBFC has worked over the years and what has made it a one-man show.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anjali Marar about India signing a contract with the International Seabed Authority for the allocation of the Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean for Polymetallic Sulphides exploration and the strategic significance this holds. (16:05)
Lastly, we talk about Bihar's Special Intensive Revision and the final list of electors that was put out by the Election Commission yesterday. (24:29)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anjali Marar about India signing a contract with the International Seabed Authority for the allocation of the Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean for Polymetallic Sulphides exploration and the strategic significance this holds. (16:05)
Lastly, we talk about Bihar's Special Intensive Revision and the final list of electors that was put out by the Election Commission yesterday. (24:29)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In this episode, we talk about India becoming the country
which has the largest area allocated in the international seabed
for polymetallic sulfides exploration. We also talk about the Election
Commission removing nearly sixty eight point five lac names from
Bihar's Portalist. But we begin today with an investigation by
(00:21):
The Indian Express into the storm brewing inside India's censor board. Hi,
I am Hrikananda and you are listening to three things
in an Express news show. For decades, clashes between filmmakers
(00:41):
and the censor board have been routine. If you're interested
in cinema, chances are that you've come across headlines like
Sensorboard demands eleven changes in India's oscar entry, or Punjab
ninety five stuck in censor board limbo or boat demand's
filmmaker to remove Janki from the title. These interventions by
the Board, officially known as the Central Board of Film Certification,
(01:05):
a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
have often come in the way of the Indian film
industry's global ambitions. But now an investigation by The Indian
Express has found a not so silent storm brewing both
within the industry and inside the CBFC itself. At the
heart of the controversy is what many describe as a
(01:27):
one man show that has turned into a super censorship raje.
In fact, the cbfc's twelve member board, which by law
must meet once every quarter, has not convened even once
in the last six years. To understand more about this investigation,
Michael Leik Shashank Bargev speaks to The Indian Express's Jemazumdar,
(01:48):
who wrote about this for the paper.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Jay, you know, it is only through its informal name,
the censor Board, that we get a sense of what
it actually ends up doing, you know, censoring films. But
can you tell us on what basis does it do
that and what exactly its mandate is.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
So as the name suggests it's a boat for certification,
there is no censorship in its name or in the act.
The Act was enacted in nineteen fifty two, and at
the time probably there was some room for, how would say, guidance,
because the audience maturity would be not evolved, so some
kind of censorship guidance was probably necessary that time. But
(02:30):
since seventy years since, things have changed, the modes of
deliveries have changed. We have OTT, we have social media,
so now increasingly similar boards elsewhere in other countries they
have moved towards a certification, so they go by certain
parameters and they certify product in an age appropriate category
(02:50):
and then leave it to the audience discretion whether to
watch or not. In India, that is what it is
supposed to do on paper. But to what they've been
doing over thes, it's not new that it has been
a tool in the hands of the government. When they
do not want something, they can always find a way
to cut it to size. There have been many stories
in the last few years about the functioning of the board,
(03:13):
but these were mostly anecdotes, so these were not worcal leads.
But finally we got some leads we could follow and
dig a little deeper and that's how the story came about.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
And you know, the issues regarding censorship have been going
on for years now. Back in nineteen seventy five seventy six,
there was the controversial film Kisakursika, which was a satire
on the politics of Indra Gandhi and that was banned
during the emergency, and even Kuljarzandhi, which came out around
the same time that was also banned. And this was
(03:47):
another film that was based on Indra Gandhi's life.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Right it was conjectured, rightly or wrongly, that it was
made after the image of Indira Gandhi and it showed
certain thematically, it was put in a way which many
thought was not a very favorable take on her life and.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Her political career.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So there was an opposition and this film and other
films they had to move the court and appeal. But
finally they came out. I mean some cards so there,
I'm sure, but they came out. But this one of
things is to happen. But increasingly now in the last
quite a few years, we were saying that a situation
has come when we may recall that in twenty fifteen
(04:28):
the severe C chairman with eight nine members that they
had to resign. They stepped down after film was allowed
which they censored. That was a film by Baba ram Rahim,
acted directed by him. So that film was found objectionable
by the board and they tried to stop it and
then they were overruled, so they stepped down. Then came
(04:50):
the quote unquote Sanskaraj of Perlaji and then when things
boiled over, then came the Letters Board under Presudon Joshin
and like you.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Mentioned, call it the censor board. But its job concerns certification.
Even if a film has adult themes, even if it's
too political or has nudity, it can technically only certify
it as adult. But tell us how exactly is it
able to censor films and make these cuts?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
See the process. We have to understand how it works.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I mean, if I have made a film, I will
go to the board and depending on what I am
and which language I'm working in, I will go to
a original office. They have nine offices Bombay which and
I have the word Calcutta and so on.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
So then they will give me a screening debt.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And the chief officer, who has got an a original officer,
he will call some advisers. The board has a long
list of advisors. They're not board members, nearly a thousand
across the country. So the auto will call a few
members maintaining the gender ratio, and all they will form
an exhibiting committee. They will have a screening and then
(06:00):
they will give their verdict that we think this film
is suitable for this category with or without this many carts.
And the problem probably is that when anyone watches a film,
the reaction is always subjective.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
So the words that.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Are being thrown around most frequently the words like it's amoral,
not descent against family value.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Then of course the big words like.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
National interest, law and order, integrity of the country and
so on. Now, if the filmmaker is a game, then
that's it. But the issue is that everybody wants a
you certificate because that opens up the viewership and it's
all about A film takes money, so they want the return.
So if they don't agree to the category, usually it
happens if a film is given U, A or A,
(06:47):
then they want you. Then there is a revising committee.
A revising committee is a more serious thing, so by
rule a board member must hate it, and then this
revising committee will give its verdict an earlier. If the
filmmaker is still not satisfied, there was the option to
appeal against that order. There was an appellate authority which
was ablaged two three years back to give the powers
(07:08):
to the High Court. And so now it has come
to a situation that if there is a disagreement, then
the only option a filmmaker has is to go to
the High court, which takes time, which is costly, and
the film hangs till the time it's settled.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And is the problem only the adult certification and that
you want more viewers for your films? Is that what
the main pushback is about.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
My feedback is that some type of films they are
okay with the air certificate because you know, sometimes they
have a particular kind of audience in mind who will
probably be attracted by your ear certificate, so that's not
a problem for them. But there are cases when it's
not about a mere categorization. Sometimes these certificates come with
the condition that you will get this certificate after this
(07:53):
many cuts, so it is not only a matter of
or you or such. And now, of course they have
this subcategory. Is also where they have this UA twelve,
UA sixteen, UA eighteen, so those things are also there,
so it's not so much about the categories. But sometimes
the boats say that some cuts are not negotiable, and
by the rule they have to reason justify the cut demands.
(08:16):
But how do you justify or anyone justifies a demand
like a character called Sita should be named Guita or
for example, when a film based on a young kids,
school kids and sex education. The very purpose of the
film was probably to reach the masses to dispel some misconception,
and that film was given an UA so that no young.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Kids will watch it.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Right, this film you're talking about was Oh My God too,
and yeah, it was given an adult certificate despite what
the film wanted to do. And even the movie Janki
versus the state of Kerala that was not given a
certificate because Janki is another name for goddess Sita Amanda.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Even long back, soon after this new boat came up,
but there was this film Kerala film I think it
was named Sexy Durga. So they said that these two
words can't go together, so it was given a certificate
with a new name is Durga. So one may say that,
you know, these may hurt sentiments and all, but how
do you justify a common Indian name like Sita to
(09:17):
Gita or Yank to v janky. So these are the
issues probably and sometimes some filmmakers I have spoken to
on some board members also they say that there is
no mandate like that. I mean, nobody's intervening to tell
the board that do these and don't do that. Sometimes
there are apparently instructions from the government.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
But much of it is happening on autopilot.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
So that's their objection, is that probably somebody is being
overactive and exceeding the brief maybe.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
So that's the kind of fit work we got.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
And you know a lot of these decisions are being
made on moral grounds, right and whether you can watch
a movie with your family or not. But are there
any particular guidelines that the board follows for this.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
No, not really, and that's been one of the demands
that the film Fraternality is asking for uniformly applicable yard sticks,
where you have some set up roles which can be
reasonably applied without being too subjective, because a film one's
appreciation or understanding of a film will always be subjective.
But at least if you have some basic ear stick
that can be followed to keep it within the rational limit.
(10:22):
But at present there is no such air streak, and
it depends on how the board feels and as you
found that to push a particular agenda, as I said
that these revising committees, they have to be headed by
a board member. So there are ten board members now.
Two have died since a board was set up. So
(10:43):
out of the ten board members, a majority of them
are never involved in any board activities. Only two or
three are called repeatedly, and they're given charge of these
revising committees, probably knowing that they would to the line. Right.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
In fact, one of the things that you found in
your investigation was that now now it's running pretty much
like a one man show.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah, yeah, that's what they have all claimed. And sometimes
when they come to the board for a discussion, sometimes
they're not even given a curtsy hearing. Sometimes they're kept
waiting for hours, and sometimes they are confronted with moral
lectures that how could you do this in the first place.
(11:24):
It's another matter that you will have to cut anyway,
but how could you do this and bring.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
It to us?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And also are these cuts being made along ideological lines?
And also are scenes removed if they might reflect poorly
on the current government?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, so on that, A couple of filmmakers told me
that if you look at the entire range of cuts,
some of it doesn't even follow any particular political or
ideological line. So it's very difficult for them to understand
that how the prison board, the wait is run, how
they get away.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
With such it susys.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
So the source of the board's power to do such
arbitrary things is not really clear to even the so
called victims and Jetty.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
The other thing is that since this is not even
the boat's mandate, are these cuts even legal?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
There is a catch, you know, every time a filmmaker
went to the court, it happened in the past. So
almost all of is the code has started with the
filmmaker and they have got away with the one or
two cards, sometimes no cuts. But one us to understand
that it's a very lengthy process to go to a
code fight it out, and the money is stuck there
(12:32):
until the release. And also these days i'm told that
there is an out of courte intimidation that if somebody
goes to code and if the kiss takes a favorable
turn towards the filmmaker, then the pressure to withdraw the
kiss and the director may be too closely.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Attached to a film.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
But most producers they have fingers and multiple pies, so
if they have ten films running, they won't take a
risk to push one film and risk the other nine films.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
So most producers.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Would, if told like that, would back out and this
has happened in a couple of cases. And once the
board even told the High Code that it got instruction
from the IRONB Ministry that a film would insight radicalism
and would push Panjab youth to violence. So when the
Code asked them that how could IRONB watch it in
the first place, I mean, it's an independent board and
(13:23):
only after the board certification anybody, including the government comes
in the diction. So then they're to withdraw that reference
to the ministry. But then I'm told that the producer
was called to Delhi and when he came back, he
said that he has to withdraw the case.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yeah, the movie you're talking about is Panjab ninety five.
But also is the understanding then that the government is
basically putting pressure on the CBFC regarding all of this.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Yeah, it could be in some cases because all governments
that even the previous governments have put pressure or they
have intervened from time to time, so that only very surprising.
Probably now it is happening more frequently. But again, as
I said, some filmmakers told me that some of the cars,
some of the demands met were not can be explained
by government intervention.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
I mean there is no reason.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Why a government should want to change in a film
like Bengal Files, where the director is known as a
favorite director of the right. So in his film, why
would the.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Government want to change a name from.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Sida to geta So perhaps, as they have argued that
not all decisions are fed to the board, some of
it is completely arbitrary and it comes out of the
boards online.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
And so when you spoke to the filmmakers, what are
the kind of things that they told you, what are
the things that they want? How do they see a
way forward?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
So legally speaking, this board is defunct for the last
five years because the board came with a three year
term and then there was no renotification. So since it
expired in July twenty twenty, so anyway, the government.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Should reconstitute the board.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
And after that incident happened in twenty fifteen when then
chairperson Leila Samson and other members stepped down, Charmannial Committee
was formed to inject some reforms and those recommendations broadly,
they have implemented some like this graded certification you twelve
VI fourteen, etc. But the basic recommendation that we should
(15:27):
move from the culture of censorship to the culture of
certification so on that they had to take some meaningful steps.
And in most countries where they have a machial viewership,
I think the norm across board is to just certify
and then leave it to the audience. So the consensus
that I got from the filmmakers, some ex board members,
(15:48):
some present board members is that the Board is not
only undermining the industry, they're also insulting the audience. Because
after seventy years of this act, if they still think
that somebody cannot make a conscious decision, somebody who is
eighteen plus, then there is room for reforms, argent reforms.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
And next we turn to India's deep sea explorations. Last week,
India signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority for
exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sul fights in the Carlsburg
Ridge of the Indian Ocean. Polymetallic sul fights or pms
are mineral deposits on the ocean floor that often contain
(16:29):
valuable metals like iron, zinc, copper, silver, and even gold.
With this deal signed, India has actually become the first
country to hold two such contracts and it now has
the largest seabed area in the world for PMS exploration.
This step not only advances signs but also strengthens India's
(16:51):
place in the global race for undersere resources. In this segment,
we speak to the Indian Expresses Angelie Marrar about this
development and what it means for India. Undulate. To begin with,
can you explain to us what polymetallic sulfides are and
why the matter for India, especially since we already have
(17:11):
a designated site.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
Polymetallic sulfides are basically deposits found in the ocean floor
and these are enriched with some of the critical elements
or metal flag zinc, copper, iron, and these are found
usually on the ocean floor close to the hydrothermal wind.
So we all have seen cracks on the land. Similarly,
(17:33):
there are cracks on the ocean floor and when sea
water enters these cracks, and supposing that these cracks have
volcanic activity, then water and magma kind of interact with
each other and post their interaction, there is magma enriched
water that is then coming out of these cracks. And
(17:54):
once these deposit onto the ocean floor, there are the
formation of these polymetallic sulfides on the ocean floor. So
these are deposits found on the ocean floor deep deep
inside the ocean, some five thousand meters underwater. So every
country wants to strengthen its resources. It could be mineral resources,
it could be human resources. So India is also attempting
(18:17):
to strengthen its mineral resources by exploring or trying to
explore the mineral deposits available deep in the ocean. India
has limited land resources, so this could be an alternate
or supportive way of exploring and adding to our mineral resources.
So polymetallic sulfis are usually found in the ocean floor
(18:39):
and they are enriched with some critical metals, some of
them like copper, iron, zinc, gold, and some rare elements
and and so forth. So if India is able to
carry out mineral exploration in the deep sea, we would
be adding to our mineral resources basically, for it could
be for developing technology or renewable energy, all the future
(19:01):
mineral requirements. Maybe this could be adding to our mineral repository.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
And talking about the Central Indian Ridge, can you tell
us what has the PMS exploration there revealed so far? Right?
Speaker 5 (19:15):
So, since twenty sixteen, India has already been involved in
the exploration of polymetatic sel fits as you mentioned along
the Central and the Southwest Inner Ocean ridges. Along with that,
in addition, we are having a ten thousand square kilometer
area now licensed to India along the Carlsberg Ridge. From
the past explorations over the past decade, what India has
(19:36):
managed to do is basically develop expertise to perform such explorations.
As I said, since these deposits are found deep in
the ocean, and India would require or any country would
require high end technology autonomous under vehicles or remotely operated
vehicles deep sea vessels. So these are all the tools
(19:57):
and technologies that any country would require to perform such explorations.
So to answer your question, since the first licensed area
allocated to India in twenty sixteen, India's capabilities, the scientific
capabilities have strengthened and India also has developed a phased
plan how to approach an area or a site where
(20:17):
there is potential polymetallic sulfide available. So that is the
overall or the major strengthening of its capabilities which India
has gained.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And Angelie tell Us who will be carrying out this
exploration for India and also what are some of the
challenges when it comes to exploring polymetallic sulfides.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
So representing India will be the National Center for Polar
and Ocean Research in Goa, operating under the ages of
Ministry of Earth Sciences. Any exploration underwater in the deep
sea deep ocean is challenging, and particularly the polymetallic sulfide
is an additional not challenging sure because of its presence
close to the hydrothermal vents deep deeply ocean. So some
(21:00):
of these terrains where these scientists might want to go
and explore lie as deep as five thousand meters underwater.
Also to notice the complex terrain around this seabed, they
could be rocky terrains. They are very hard deposits. As
I said earlier, these are remnants from the magma or
(21:20):
the lava which hardens over time and forms a base
along the seabed. So we would require really hard tools
to be able to drill into these deposits and get so.
Unlike the land, ocean puts you into several difficulties while
you are performing the exploration underwater, so it requires not
just technology and tools, but also the expertise from across
(21:43):
disciplines like geology, geophysics, biology, deep sea knowledge. So all
these combinations and they make the polymetallic sulfide explorations in
the deep water extremely challenging. And these sites are some
of the most remotest and unexplored place where of the Earth,
and maybe people have never been to such locations, so
(22:04):
it's going into unchartered waters.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Now about the newly allocated Carlsburg Ridge, can you tell
us why was this area assigned to India and what
makes it significant?
Speaker 5 (22:16):
So from the literature, it is known that the Carlsburg
Ridge has several hydro thermal winds and because the polymetallic
sulfides are known to be found around closer to the
hydrothermal winds, so the natural choice is to explore this area.
And from the previous depotion surveys and depotion studies, it
(22:39):
has been known that there is a possibility there are
high chances of finding the PMS deposits around Carlsburg Ridge,
which is why then India submitted an application expressing its
interest in wanting to perform the PMS exploration along the
Carlsberg Ridge and Angelie.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
How exactly are these regions assigned for exploration, Can you
tell us a bit about that process?
Speaker 5 (23:03):
So for any country to perform mindal exploration in the
deep ocean, there is an authority by the name International
Seabed Authority, which is an authority which assigns areas to countries.
In this case, India had submitted its application in twenty
twenty four expressing its interest for the exploration in Carlsburg Bridge.
India had given a clear plan as to what they
(23:24):
want to explore and how they're going to to go
about it. The application was reviewed and the ISA typically
considers or it follows the United Nation Convention the Law
of c On that basis, it reviews all the applications
which it receives from around the world. Upon its review
and satisfactory conditions which every country abides to, the ISA
(23:47):
allocates or issues licenses to a country to explore a
particular area.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
And so right now does India plan on acquiring any
more sites for exploration.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
So at present, India has the distinction of being the
largest area under its license to explore the PMS. India
is being ambitious and has submitted one more proposal to
the ISA, and this will be in the Central Indian Ocean.
Region about three thousand square kilometer area. And this is
(24:18):
not for PMS, but this is for exploring cobalt rich
ferromanganese crusts along the Central Indian Ocean region. But that
application is under review. We still have to wait to
see whether India gets awarded the area or not.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
And finally we talk about the special Intensive revision taking
place in Bihar. According to a report by the Indian
Expresses Domininath, the Election Commission has removed nearly sixty eight
point five LAC names from Bihar's votalist. The final role
published yesterday now shows seven point four to Koor electors,
(24:56):
which is a six person drop from the total electors
that will recorded in June. The deletions came after a
three month Special Intensive revision, which has drawn criticism for
resembling a citizenship check. Now in the draft role that
was published on first August, around sixty five LAC names
were struck off. Over the following weeks, another three point
(25:17):
six lack were deleted, while just over twenty one lacked
New voters were added That brought the final count to
seven point four to korrore electors, a figure the Commission
shared with political parties during meetings with district collectors. In
her report, Domini explains that this revision was ordered nationwide
back in June, but Bihar was taken up first since
(25:40):
assembly elections are due in November. In this exercise, instead
of the routine annual update, the Election Commission asked all
existing electors in Bihar to fill fresh enumeration forms. Those
registered after two thousand and three, when the last such
intensive exercise was carried out, had to submit documents proving eligibility,
(26:00):
including citizenship. The Commission said it launched the exercise to
ensure accuracy, citing migration, rapid organization, non reporting of debts,
and what it called the inclusion of foreign illegal migrants.
But the document requirements raised concern. Voters born before first
of July nineteen eighty seven had to provide proof of
(26:23):
their own date or place of perth. Those born between
July nineteen eighty seven and December two thousand and four
had to provide documents for themselves and one parent, and
anyone born after December two thousand and four had to
provide proof of themselves and both parents. These categories mirror
the framework under the citizenship at nineteen fifty five. Now,
(26:45):
the decision has been challenged in the Supreme Court. A
series of petitions have argued that the Election Commission does
not have the authority to conduct what amounts to be
a citizenship verification and that the procedure goes beyond it
its mandate. Under Article three twenty six of the Constitution,
only Indian citizens over eighteen years old can be registered
(27:07):
as electors, but the existing voted enrollment form Forms six
does not ask for proof of citizenship. So far, the
Commission has stood by the exercise, describing it as essential
to the integrity of the electoral role. You were listening
to Three Things by the Nian Express. Today's show was
(27:28):
edited and mixed by Siriesh Pawar and produced by Shashank
Pargev and Ninahrikan Nanda. If you like the show, then
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(27:51):
Express dot com.
In this episode, we talk about India becoming the country
which has the largest area allocated in the international seabed
for polymetallic sulfides exploration. We also talk about the Election
Commission removing nearly sixty eight point five lac names from
Bihar's Portalist. But we begin today with an investigation by
(00:21):
The Indian Express into the storm brewing inside India's censor board. Hi,
I am Hrikananda and you are listening to three things
in an Express news show. For decades, clashes between filmmakers
(00:41):
and the censor board have been routine. If you're interested
in cinema, chances are that you've come across headlines like
Sensorboard demands eleven changes in India's oscar entry, or Punjab
ninety five stuck in censor board limbo or boat demand's
filmmaker to remove Janki from the title. These interventions by
the Board, officially known as the Central Board of Film Certification,
(01:05):
a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
have often come in the way of the Indian film
industry's global ambitions. But now an investigation by The Indian
Express has found a not so silent storm brewing both
within the industry and inside the CBFC itself. At the
heart of the controversy is what many describe as a
(01:27):
one man show that has turned into a super censorship raje.
In fact, the cbfc's twelve member board, which by law
must meet once every quarter, has not convened even once
in the last six years. To understand more about this investigation,
Michael Leik Shashank Bargev speaks to The Indian Express's Jemazumdar,
(01:48):
who wrote about this for the paper.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Jay, you know, it is only through its informal name,
the censor Board, that we get a sense of what
it actually ends up doing, you know, censoring films. But
can you tell us on what basis does it do
that and what exactly its mandate is.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
So as the name suggests it's a boat for certification,
there is no censorship in its name or in the act.
The Act was enacted in nineteen fifty two, and at
the time probably there was some room for, how would say, guidance,
because the audience maturity would be not evolved, so some
kind of censorship guidance was probably necessary that time. But
(02:30):
since seventy years since, things have changed, the modes of
deliveries have changed. We have OTT, we have social media,
so now increasingly similar boards elsewhere in other countries they
have moved towards a certification, so they go by certain
parameters and they certify product in an age appropriate category
(02:50):
and then leave it to the audience discretion whether to
watch or not. In India, that is what it is
supposed to do on paper. But to what they've been
doing over thes, it's not new that it has been
a tool in the hands of the government. When they
do not want something, they can always find a way
to cut it to size. There have been many stories
in the last few years about the functioning of the board,
(03:13):
but these were mostly anecdotes, so these were not worcal leads.
But finally we got some leads we could follow and
dig a little deeper and that's how the story came about.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
And you know, the issues regarding censorship have been going
on for years now. Back in nineteen seventy five seventy six,
there was the controversial film Kisakursika, which was a satire
on the politics of Indra Gandhi and that was banned
during the emergency, and even Kuljarzandhi, which came out around
the same time that was also banned. And this was
(03:47):
another film that was based on Indra Gandhi's life.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Right it was conjectured, rightly or wrongly, that it was
made after the image of Indira Gandhi and it showed
certain thematically, it was put in a way which many
thought was not a very favorable take on her life and.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Her political career.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So there was an opposition and this film and other
films they had to move the court and appeal. But
finally they came out. I mean some cards so there,
I'm sure, but they came out. But this one of
things is to happen. But increasingly now in the last
quite a few years, we were saying that a situation
has come when we may recall that in twenty fifteen
(04:28):
the severe C chairman with eight nine members that they
had to resign. They stepped down after film was allowed
which they censored. That was a film by Baba ram Rahim,
acted directed by him. So that film was found objectionable
by the board and they tried to stop it and
then they were overruled, so they stepped down. Then came
(04:50):
the quote unquote Sanskaraj of Perlaji and then when things
boiled over, then came the Letters Board under Presudon Joshin
and like you.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Mentioned, call it the censor board. But its job concerns certification.
Even if a film has adult themes, even if it's
too political or has nudity, it can technically only certify
it as adult. But tell us how exactly is it
able to censor films and make these cuts?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
See the process. We have to understand how it works.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I mean, if I have made a film, I will
go to the board and depending on what I am
and which language I'm working in, I will go to
a original office. They have nine offices Bombay which and
I have the word Calcutta and so on.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
So then they will give me a screening debt.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And the chief officer, who has got an a original officer,
he will call some advisers. The board has a long
list of advisors. They're not board members, nearly a thousand
across the country. So the auto will call a few
members maintaining the gender ratio, and all they will form
an exhibiting committee. They will have a screening and then
(06:00):
they will give their verdict that we think this film
is suitable for this category with or without this many carts.
And the problem probably is that when anyone watches a film,
the reaction is always subjective.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
So the words that.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Are being thrown around most frequently the words like it's amoral,
not descent against family value.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Then of course the big words like.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
National interest, law and order, integrity of the country and
so on. Now, if the filmmaker is a game, then
that's it. But the issue is that everybody wants a
you certificate because that opens up the viewership and it's
all about A film takes money, so they want the return.
So if they don't agree to the category, usually it
happens if a film is given U, A or A,
(06:47):
then they want you. Then there is a revising committee.
A revising committee is a more serious thing, so by
rule a board member must hate it, and then this
revising committee will give its verdict an earlier. If the
filmmaker is still not satisfied, there was the option to
appeal against that order. There was an appellate authority which
was ablaged two three years back to give the powers
(07:08):
to the High Court. And so now it has come
to a situation that if there is a disagreement, then
the only option a filmmaker has is to go to
the High court, which takes time, which is costly, and
the film hangs till the time it's settled.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And is the problem only the adult certification and that
you want more viewers for your films? Is that what
the main pushback is about.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
My feedback is that some type of films they are
okay with the air certificate because you know, sometimes they
have a particular kind of audience in mind who will
probably be attracted by your ear certificate, so that's not
a problem for them. But there are cases when it's
not about a mere categorization. Sometimes these certificates come with
the condition that you will get this certificate after this
(07:53):
many cuts, so it is not only a matter of
or you or such. And now, of course they have
this subcategory. Is also where they have this UA twelve,
UA sixteen, UA eighteen, so those things are also there,
so it's not so much about the categories. But sometimes
the boats say that some cuts are not negotiable, and
by the rule they have to reason justify the cut demands.
(08:16):
But how do you justify or anyone justifies a demand
like a character called Sita should be named Guita or
for example, when a film based on a young kids,
school kids and sex education. The very purpose of the
film was probably to reach the masses to dispel some misconception,
and that film was given an UA so that no young.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Kids will watch it.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Right, this film you're talking about was Oh My God too,
and yeah, it was given an adult certificate despite what
the film wanted to do. And even the movie Janki
versus the state of Kerala that was not given a
certificate because Janki is another name for goddess Sita Amanda.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Even long back, soon after this new boat came up,
but there was this film Kerala film I think it
was named Sexy Durga. So they said that these two
words can't go together, so it was given a certificate
with a new name is Durga. So one may say that,
you know, these may hurt sentiments and all, but how
do you justify a common Indian name like Sita to
(09:17):
Gita or Yank to v janky. So these are the
issues probably and sometimes some filmmakers I have spoken to
on some board members also they say that there is
no mandate like that. I mean, nobody's intervening to tell
the board that do these and don't do that. Sometimes
there are apparently instructions from the government.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
But much of it is happening on autopilot.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
So that's their objection, is that probably somebody is being
overactive and exceeding the brief maybe.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
So that's the kind of fit work we got.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
And you know a lot of these decisions are being
made on moral grounds, right and whether you can watch
a movie with your family or not. But are there
any particular guidelines that the board follows for this.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
No, not really, and that's been one of the demands
that the film Fraternality is asking for uniformly applicable yard sticks,
where you have some set up roles which can be
reasonably applied without being too subjective, because a film one's
appreciation or understanding of a film will always be subjective.
But at least if you have some basic ear stick
that can be followed to keep it within the rational limit.
(10:22):
But at present there is no such air streak, and
it depends on how the board feels and as you
found that to push a particular agenda, as I said
that these revising committees, they have to be headed by
a board member. So there are ten board members now.
Two have died since a board was set up. So
(10:43):
out of the ten board members, a majority of them
are never involved in any board activities. Only two or
three are called repeatedly, and they're given charge of these
revising committees, probably knowing that they would to the line. Right.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
In fact, one of the things that you found in
your investigation was that now now it's running pretty much
like a one man show.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah, yeah, that's what they have all claimed. And sometimes
when they come to the board for a discussion, sometimes
they're not even given a curtsy hearing. Sometimes they're kept
waiting for hours, and sometimes they are confronted with moral
lectures that how could you do this in the first place.
(11:24):
It's another matter that you will have to cut anyway,
but how could you do this and bring.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
It to us?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And also are these cuts being made along ideological lines?
And also are scenes removed if they might reflect poorly
on the current government?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, so on that, A couple of filmmakers told me
that if you look at the entire range of cuts,
some of it doesn't even follow any particular political or
ideological line. So it's very difficult for them to understand
that how the prison board, the wait is run, how
they get away.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
With such it susys.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
So the source of the board's power to do such
arbitrary things is not really clear to even the so
called victims and Jetty.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
The other thing is that since this is not even
the boat's mandate, are these cuts even legal?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
There is a catch, you know, every time a filmmaker
went to the court, it happened in the past. So
almost all of is the code has started with the
filmmaker and they have got away with the one or
two cards, sometimes no cuts. But one us to understand
that it's a very lengthy process to go to a
code fight it out, and the money is stuck there
(12:32):
until the release. And also these days i'm told that
there is an out of courte intimidation that if somebody
goes to code and if the kiss takes a favorable
turn towards the filmmaker, then the pressure to withdraw the
kiss and the director may be too closely.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Attached to a film.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
But most producers they have fingers and multiple pies, so
if they have ten films running, they won't take a
risk to push one film and risk the other nine films.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
So most producers.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Would, if told like that, would back out and this
has happened in a couple of cases. And once the
board even told the High Code that it got instruction
from the IRONB Ministry that a film would insight radicalism
and would push Panjab youth to violence. So when the
Code asked them that how could IRONB watch it in
the first place, I mean, it's an independent board and
(13:23):
only after the board certification anybody, including the government comes
in the diction. So then they're to withdraw that reference
to the ministry. But then I'm told that the producer
was called to Delhi and when he came back, he
said that he has to withdraw the case.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yeah, the movie you're talking about is Panjab ninety five.
But also is the understanding then that the government is
basically putting pressure on the CBFC regarding all of this.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Yeah, it could be in some cases because all governments
that even the previous governments have put pressure or they
have intervened from time to time, so that only very surprising.
Probably now it is happening more frequently. But again, as
I said, some filmmakers told me that some of the cars,
some of the demands met were not can be explained
by government intervention.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
I mean there is no reason.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Why a government should want to change in a film
like Bengal Files, where the director is known as a
favorite director of the right. So in his film, why
would the.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Government want to change a name from.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Sida to geta So perhaps, as they have argued that
not all decisions are fed to the board, some of
it is completely arbitrary and it comes out of the
boards online.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
And so when you spoke to the filmmakers, what are
the kind of things that they told you, what are
the things that they want? How do they see a
way forward?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
So legally speaking, this board is defunct for the last
five years because the board came with a three year
term and then there was no renotification. So since it
expired in July twenty twenty, so anyway, the government.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Should reconstitute the board.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
And after that incident happened in twenty fifteen when then
chairperson Leila Samson and other members stepped down, Charmannial Committee
was formed to inject some reforms and those recommendations broadly,
they have implemented some like this graded certification you twelve
VI fourteen, etc. But the basic recommendation that we should
(15:27):
move from the culture of censorship to the culture of
certification so on that they had to take some meaningful steps.
And in most countries where they have a machial viewership,
I think the norm across board is to just certify
and then leave it to the audience. So the consensus
that I got from the filmmakers, some ex board members,
(15:48):
some present board members is that the Board is not
only undermining the industry, they're also insulting the audience. Because
after seventy years of this act, if they still think
that somebody cannot make a conscious decision, somebody who is
eighteen plus, then there is room for reforms, argent reforms.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
And next we turn to India's deep sea explorations. Last week,
India signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority for
exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sul fights in the Carlsburg
Ridge of the Indian Ocean. Polymetallic sul fights or pms
are mineral deposits on the ocean floor that often contain
(16:29):
valuable metals like iron, zinc, copper, silver, and even gold.
With this deal signed, India has actually become the first
country to hold two such contracts and it now has
the largest seabed area in the world for PMS exploration.
This step not only advances signs but also strengthens India's
(16:51):
place in the global race for undersere resources. In this segment,
we speak to the Indian Expresses Angelie Marrar about this
development and what it means for India. Undulate. To begin with,
can you explain to us what polymetallic sulfides are and
why the matter for India, especially since we already have
(17:11):
a designated site.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
Polymetallic sulfides are basically deposits found in the ocean floor
and these are enriched with some of the critical elements
or metal flag zinc, copper, iron, and these are found
usually on the ocean floor close to the hydrothermal wind.
So we all have seen cracks on the land. Similarly,
(17:33):
there are cracks on the ocean floor and when sea
water enters these cracks, and supposing that these cracks have
volcanic activity, then water and magma kind of interact with
each other and post their interaction, there is magma enriched
water that is then coming out of these cracks. And
(17:54):
once these deposit onto the ocean floor, there are the
formation of these polymetallic sulfides on the ocean floor. So
these are deposits found on the ocean floor deep deep
inside the ocean, some five thousand meters underwater. So every
country wants to strengthen its resources. It could be mineral resources,
it could be human resources. So India is also attempting
(18:17):
to strengthen its mineral resources by exploring or trying to
explore the mineral deposits available deep in the ocean. India
has limited land resources, so this could be an alternate
or supportive way of exploring and adding to our mineral resources.
So polymetallic sulfis are usually found in the ocean floor
(18:39):
and they are enriched with some critical metals, some of
them like copper, iron, zinc, gold, and some rare elements
and and so forth. So if India is able to
carry out mineral exploration in the deep sea, we would
be adding to our mineral resources basically, for it could
be for developing technology or renewable energy, all the future
(19:01):
mineral requirements. Maybe this could be adding to our mineral repository.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
And talking about the Central Indian Ridge, can you tell
us what has the PMS exploration there revealed so far? Right?
Speaker 5 (19:15):
So, since twenty sixteen, India has already been involved in
the exploration of polymetatic sel fits as you mentioned along
the Central and the Southwest Inner Ocean ridges. Along with that,
in addition, we are having a ten thousand square kilometer
area now licensed to India along the Carlsberg Ridge. From
the past explorations over the past decade, what India has
(19:36):
managed to do is basically develop expertise to perform such explorations.
As I said, since these deposits are found deep in
the ocean, and India would require or any country would
require high end technology autonomous under vehicles or remotely operated
vehicles deep sea vessels. So these are all the tools
(19:57):
and technologies that any country would require to perform such explorations.
So to answer your question, since the first licensed area
allocated to India in twenty sixteen, India's capabilities, the scientific
capabilities have strengthened and India also has developed a phased
plan how to approach an area or a site where
(20:17):
there is potential polymetallic sulfide available. So that is the
overall or the major strengthening of its capabilities which India
has gained.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And Angelie tell Us who will be carrying out this
exploration for India and also what are some of the
challenges when it comes to exploring polymetallic sulfides.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
So representing India will be the National Center for Polar
and Ocean Research in Goa, operating under the ages of
Ministry of Earth Sciences. Any exploration underwater in the deep
sea deep ocean is challenging, and particularly the polymetallic sulfide
is an additional not challenging sure because of its presence
close to the hydrothermal vents deep deeply ocean. So some
(21:00):
of these terrains where these scientists might want to go
and explore lie as deep as five thousand meters underwater.
Also to notice the complex terrain around this seabed, they
could be rocky terrains. They are very hard deposits. As
I said earlier, these are remnants from the magma or
(21:20):
the lava which hardens over time and forms a base
along the seabed. So we would require really hard tools
to be able to drill into these deposits and get so.
Unlike the land, ocean puts you into several difficulties while
you are performing the exploration underwater, so it requires not
just technology and tools, but also the expertise from across
(21:43):
disciplines like geology, geophysics, biology, deep sea knowledge. So all
these combinations and they make the polymetallic sulfide explorations in
the deep water extremely challenging. And these sites are some
of the most remotest and unexplored place where of the Earth,
and maybe people have never been to such locations, so
(22:04):
it's going into unchartered waters.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Now about the newly allocated Carlsburg Ridge, can you tell
us why was this area assigned to India and what
makes it significant?
Speaker 5 (22:16):
So from the literature, it is known that the Carlsburg
Ridge has several hydro thermal winds and because the polymetallic
sulfides are known to be found around closer to the
hydrothermal winds, so the natural choice is to explore this area.
And from the previous depotion surveys and depotion studies, it
(22:39):
has been known that there is a possibility there are
high chances of finding the PMS deposits around Carlsburg Ridge,
which is why then India submitted an application expressing its
interest in wanting to perform the PMS exploration along the
Carlsberg Ridge and Angelie.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
How exactly are these regions assigned for exploration, Can you
tell us a bit about that process?
Speaker 5 (23:03):
So for any country to perform mindal exploration in the
deep ocean, there is an authority by the name International
Seabed Authority, which is an authority which assigns areas to countries.
In this case, India had submitted its application in twenty
twenty four expressing its interest for the exploration in Carlsburg Bridge.
India had given a clear plan as to what they
(23:24):
want to explore and how they're going to to go
about it. The application was reviewed and the ISA typically
considers or it follows the United Nation Convention the Law
of c On that basis, it reviews all the applications
which it receives from around the world. Upon its review
and satisfactory conditions which every country abides to, the ISA
(23:47):
allocates or issues licenses to a country to explore a
particular area.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
And so right now does India plan on acquiring any
more sites for exploration.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
So at present, India has the distinction of being the
largest area under its license to explore the PMS. India
is being ambitious and has submitted one more proposal to
the ISA, and this will be in the Central Indian Ocean.
Region about three thousand square kilometer area. And this is
(24:18):
not for PMS, but this is for exploring cobalt rich
ferromanganese crusts along the Central Indian Ocean region. But that
application is under review. We still have to wait to
see whether India gets awarded the area or not.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
And finally we talk about the special Intensive revision taking
place in Bihar. According to a report by the Indian
Expresses Domininath, the Election Commission has removed nearly sixty eight
point five LAC names from Bihar's votalist. The final role
published yesterday now shows seven point four to Koor electors,
(24:56):
which is a six person drop from the total electors
that will recorded in June. The deletions came after a
three month Special Intensive revision, which has drawn criticism for
resembling a citizenship check. Now in the draft role that
was published on first August, around sixty five LAC names
were struck off. Over the following weeks, another three point
(25:17):
six lack were deleted, while just over twenty one lacked
New voters were added That brought the final count to
seven point four to korrore electors, a figure the Commission
shared with political parties during meetings with district collectors. In
her report, Domini explains that this revision was ordered nationwide
back in June, but Bihar was taken up first since
(25:40):
assembly elections are due in November. In this exercise, instead
of the routine annual update, the Election Commission asked all
existing electors in Bihar to fill fresh enumeration forms. Those
registered after two thousand and three, when the last such
intensive exercise was carried out, had to submit documents proving eligibility,
(26:00):
including citizenship. The Commission said it launched the exercise to
ensure accuracy, citing migration, rapid organization, non reporting of debts,
and what it called the inclusion of foreign illegal migrants.
But the document requirements raised concern. Voters born before first
of July nineteen eighty seven had to provide proof of
(26:23):
their own date or place of perth. Those born between
July nineteen eighty seven and December two thousand and four
had to provide documents for themselves and one parent, and
anyone born after December two thousand and four had to
provide proof of themselves and both parents. These categories mirror
the framework under the citizenship at nineteen fifty five. Now,
(26:45):
the decision has been challenged in the Supreme Court. A
series of petitions have argued that the Election Commission does
not have the authority to conduct what amounts to be
a citizenship verification and that the procedure goes beyond it
its mandate. Under Article three twenty six of the Constitution,
only Indian citizens over eighteen years old can be registered
(27:07):
as electors, but the existing voted enrollment form Forms six
does not ask for proof of citizenship. So far, the
Commission has stood by the exercise, describing it as essential
to the integrity of the electoral role. You were listening
to Three Things by the Nian Express. Today's show was
(27:28):
edited and mixed by Siriesh Pawar and produced by Shashank
Pargev and Ninahrikan Nanda. If you like the show, then
do subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. You
can also recommend the show to someone you think will
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a family. It's the best way for people to get
to know about us. You can also tweet us at
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(27:51):
Express dot com.
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