The Union Government had recently proposed that the Cinematograph Act,1952 should be amended, which gives more power to the government to change the CBFC certification and it also enables the government to remove a film from the theatres if it is objectionable.
The Narendra Modi-led government’s decision in this regard has brought several personalities across the industries under one roof to oppose the proposed amendments to the existing act. Politically active and aware industry Kollywood has vented its opinion against the new act.
Now the Tamil Nadu government has also raised its objections to the amendment the union government wants to bring and appealed to the government to withdraw the new act that hinders the freedom of the filmmakers.
On Tuesday, the representatives of the Tamil Nadu Film Producers Association met the state Chief Minister MK Stalin and sought his support in opposing the controversial Cinematograph Act.
A day after chairing a meeting with the representatives, MK Stalin has shot a letter to the union government and appealed to the government that the problematic Cinematograph Act should be withdrawn.
In the letter, the Chief Minister expressed his concerns over the freedom of expression of the filmmakers and said the new recommendations will restrict artistic freedom which is not good for the industry.
‘Curbing the creative thinking of the film fraternity and imposing conditions on them on how films are to be made are totally unjustified and in fact, it is quite opposite to the very ideals of our constitution. Taking away the right to freedom of thought will only weaken our democracy – which has to be vibrant always irrespective of the parties in power,’ MK Stalin said in the letter to the Centre.
The Tamil Nadu government has appealed to the concerned Law and Justice, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology to repeal the proposed amendments to the Cinematograph Act.
Recently, several actors from the Kollywood industry have opposed the new act and appealed to the union government that such amendments are not good for the wellbeing of the industry, particularly to the freedom of the directors, and batted for the demand of rethinking on it.