Media Action Nepal denounces pre-censorship of film
MEDIA ACTION NEPAL/ March 23: Media Action Nepal has denounced the draconian decision of the Censor Board Nepal to pre-censor films. While pre-censorship in cinema violates the principles of a democratic state, cinema is more than just a form of entertainment. And, pre-censoring is an attack on freedom of expression, a constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedom.
However, recently Nepali films have been facing harsh pre-censorship for including pivotal real-life incidents. The recent examples of films that faced censorship are Pooja Sir Rajagunj and Lajsharanam.
In Rajagunj, the censor board has chopped and censored numerous scenes that were pivotal parts of the movie. According to Rajagunj director Deepak Rauniyar, the censor board removed something that had been in the public domain for the past decade.
“It gave me the idea for the film, in which our detective looks for any clues/he can apprehend a kidnapper, find the kid, or rescue the kid,” he told Media Action Nepal. They not only took that away, but they also forbade us from pronouncing the word ‘Prime Minister’ in the film, they removed the words such as India and Bharat from the film, Rauniyar added.
He further argued that if there were any laws, that would have been appropriate. “However, they did this in a dramatic and authoritarian manner. And yelled at me over a phone call. It sounded more like a threat,” he added.
Media Action Nepal also found the words such as prime minister, India and Bharat and Goro, which basically mean white in Nepali, have been silenced in the movie.
“The most important thing is for the person on the censor board to understand the film. We are still unable to realize how far world cinema has progressed. Skilled individuals should serve on the censor board, not people with political beliefs. I am talking about someone who understands what to keep and what not to keep. I am shocked and saddened to learn that the government and its agencies, which are supposed to promote free speech, are currently suppressing those voices,” Rauniyar said.
Highlighting the need for a regulatory approach that promotes informed choices rather than restricting artistic expression, Laxman Datt Pant, Executive Director of Media Action Nepal, stated, “Cinema, as a form of artistic and editorial content, should not be subject to censorship. Instead, films can be classified into categories, allowing audiences to make informed viewing decisions.”