'Padmavati' row: CBFC has no rules for pvt screenings, film release delayed

Even though Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Prasoon Joshi is furious with 'Padmavati' makers for screening the film to select media houses, there is little he can do in terms of taking any action.

The existing Cinematograph Act of 1952 as well the rules governing the functioning of CBFC deal only with public exhibition of a film and does not speak about private screening.

On Sunday, Joshi had expressed his disappointment with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and 'Padmavati' producers, saying the movie was being screened for the media and getting reviewed on national channels, without CBFC members having seen or certified it, and called it an attempt to subvert the exiting norms.

However, a long-standing CBFC board member told DNA that a CBFC certification is only needed when a film has to be publicly exhibited in a cinema hall or other public space.

"Even the existing rules governing CBFC's functioning say so," the member said, adding that they do not concern conducting screening of a movie for a private audience.

Former CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani agreed. "A filmmaker can show his movie to whoever he wants as long as it is his private audience. A CBFC certification is needed when the movie has to be screened has to be publicly screened in a theatre," he said.

Nihalani, however, clarified that in his opinion it is, however, wrong if people who have seen the film as part of a private audience, plays a role in influencing people's opinions and pending decisions in various corners about the release of Padmavati.

"Channels can't do a propaganda on the film that would influence decisions about it," he said.

But here, too, there are no existing rules to counter that.

While the CBFC has to see the Deepika Padukone-Shahid Kapoor-Ranveer Singh starrer for certification, a petition has also been filed at the Supreme Court that seeks directions to the CBI for registering FIR against Bhansali and Viacom 18 chairman Mukesh Ambani for defaming the legendary Rajput queen and distorting history.

The petition, which also calls for an amendment in the CBFC guidelines to add a provision on not allowing character assassination of legend dignities in any film, is likely to come up for hearing next week.

Earlier last week, the CJI Deepak Misra had disposed off a petition that had called for constitution of a committee comprising historians and prominent citizens to preview the film and check historical facts.

A CBFC certificate is however mandatory when a film is being exported.

Repeated calls and messages to Prasoon Joshi in this regard went unanswered.