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Editorial · 2 min read · THE HINDU PAPER EDITORIAL

Censorship's Chilling Effect: The CBFC's Opaque Operations

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The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India currently exerts considerable influence over cinematic content , extending its reach beyond traditional screenings to even impact streaming platforms. Its recent actions bring about a troubling pattern of obstruction and a discernible bias , effectively stifling artistic expression and narrative diversity. Films that explore sensitive political themes or espouse secular principles are often either stalled indefinitely or subjected to extensive cuts. A poignant illustration is the year-long delay in certifying "Monkey Man," which remains unseen by the board, tantamount to a de facto prohibition without an official ban. Similarly, critical allusions to governmental handling of the COVID-19 pandemic were expunged from "Homebound," India's Oscar entry.Beyond such overt censorship, the CBFC demonstrates a concerning lack of transparency. It has ceased its statutory obligation to publish certification details in the government Gazette and has made digital records of film cuts virtually inaccessible , citing perpetual "maintenance" on its online portals. Furthermore, researchers are now cut off from accessing historical cut portions, hindering academic study. This systemic lack of openness, coupled with its perceived alignment with the dominant political ideology , strongly suggests that the board’s supposed autonomy is merely nominal and is designed to shut down dissenting voices.The foundational statute, the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which ostensibly governs the CBFC's operations, has proven inadequate as a check on its expanding powers. The concept of pre-censorship itself remains odious to the principles of free speech inherent in a democratic society. It is imperative that the film fraternity , alongside legal advocates, actively call out these transgressions and demand adherence to established legal frameworks. The board's unchecked authority has historically plagued storytellers, but the current climate demands intensified scrutiny and robust mechanisms to hold it accountable and stand up for artistic freedom, ensuring that cultural narratives are not unilaterally dictated but flourish in an environment of creative freedom.

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Vocabulary from this Editorial

Adherence noun

The act of sticking to a rule, belief, or principle.

Synonyms: compliance, conformity, observance

"Strict adherence to safety regulations is crucial in the construction industry."

Alignment noun

An arrangement in a straight line, or a position of agreement or alliance.

Synonyms: accord, cooperation, coalition

"The company sought alignment with its strategic partners on key policy decisions."

Allusions noun

Indirect or passing references; hints.

Synonyms: references, hints, suggestions

"The author made several allusions to Greek mythology throughout the novel."

Bias noun

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

Synonyms: prejudice, partiality, favoritism

"The news report was criticized for its clear bias towards one political party."

Ceased verb

Stopped or brought to an end.

Synonyms: halted, discontinued, terminated

"The factory ceased operations after decades of production."

Content noun

The information or material contained within something (e.g., a film, book, website).

Synonyms: material, subject matter, text

"The website offers a wide range of educational content for students."

Discernible adj

Perceptible; able to be distinguished.

Synonyms: perceptible, detectable, noticeable

"There was a discernible change in his attitude after the promotion."

Espouse verb

Adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life).

Synonyms: advocate, champion, endorse

"She espoused the principles of environmental conservation throughout her career."

Expunged verb

Erased or removed completely.

Synonyms: deleted, eradicated, obliterated

"His criminal record was expunged after he successfully completed his rehabilitation program."

Flourish verb

Grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

Synonyms: thrive, prosper, bloom

"The arts tend to flourish in cities with diverse cultural scenes."

Foundational adj

Providing a basis or groundwork; fundamental.

Synonyms: fundamental, basic, underlying

"Strong foundational knowledge in mathematics is vital for engineering students."

Fraternity noun

A group of people sharing a common profession or interests; brotherhood.

Synonyms: brotherhood, community, association

"He was welcomed into the fraternity of journalists."

Ideology noun

A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Synonyms: doctrine, creed, belief system

"The political party operates under a strict conservative ideology."

Imperative adj

Of vital importance; crucial.

Synonyms: essential, crucial, vital

"It is imperative that all documents are submitted by the deadline."

Inaccessible adj

Unable to be reached or entered; difficult to obtain or use.

Synonyms: unreachable, unobtainable, unavailable

"The historical archives were stored in an inaccessible part of the library."

Inadequate adj

Lacking the quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.

Synonyms: insufficient, deficient, scanty

"The report concluded that the current safety measures were inadequate."

Influence noun

The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Synonyms: impact, sway, power

"Her parents had a profound influence on her career choice."

Mechanisms noun

A system of parts working together in a machine; a process or means by which something is accomplished.

Synonyms: systems, procedures, methods

"The government is developing new mechanisms to combat corruption."

Narrative noun

A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.

Synonyms: story, account, tale

"The film presents a compelling narrative of survival against the odds."

Nominal adj

Existing in name only; very small compared to an actual value or cost.

Synonyms: titular, token, symbolic

"He holds only a nominal position in the company, with no real power."

Obstruction noun

The action of obstructing or being obstructed; something that obstructs.

Synonyms: hindrance, impediment, blockage

"The fallen tree caused an obstruction on the road, delaying traffic for hours."

Odious adj

Extremely unpleasant; repulsive.

Synonyms: repulsive, repugnant, abhorrent

"The politician's odious remarks sparked widespread public outrage."

Ostensibly adverb

Apparently or seemingly, but perhaps not actually.

Synonyms: apparently, seemingly, professedly

"Ostensibly, the company is doing well, but internally, there are many problems."

Overt adj

Done or shown openly; plainly apparent.

Synonyms: explicit, obvious, unconcealed

"The manager's overt favoritism towards certain employees was widely noticed."

Perceived adj

Interpreted or regarded in a particular way.

Synonyms: understood, recognized, interpreted

"The perceived threat of economic recession led to a dip in consumer spending."

Perpetual adj

Never ending or changing; occurring repeatedly.

Synonyms: continuous, endless, constant

"The region is plagued by perpetual conflicts and instability."

Plagued verb

Caused continual trouble or distress to.

Synonyms: afflicted, tormented, harassed

"The small business was plagued by a series of technical issues."

Poignant adj

Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

Synonyms: touching, moving, affecting

"The film's poignant ending left many viewers in tears."

Prohibition noun

The action of forbidding something, especially by law.

Synonyms: ban, embargo, veto

"The prohibition on smoking in public places has been widely accepted."

Robust adj

Strong and healthy; sturdy or vigorous.

Synonyms: strong, sturdy, resilient

"The company needs to implement a more robust cybersecurity system."

Scrutiny noun

Critical observation or examination.

Synonyms: examination, inspection, analysis

"The financial records came under intense scrutiny during the audit."

Stifling adj

Making one feel constrained, oppressed, or unable to breathe easily; suffocating.

Synonyms: oppressive, constricting, suffocating

"The stifling regulations hindered innovation in the industry."

Systemic adj

Relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part.

Synonyms: pervasive, widespread, fundamental

"Addressing systemic racism requires comprehensive changes across society."

Tantamount adj

Equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as.

Synonyms: equivalent, equal, commensurate

"His refusal to cooperate was tantamount to an admission of guilt."

Transgressions noun

Acts that go against a law, rule, or code of conduct; offenses.

Synonyms: offenses, violations, sins

"The committee investigated the CEO's alleged financial transgressions."

Unilaterally adverb

Performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of others.

Synonyms: independently, single-handedly, autonomously

"The government decided unilaterally to withdraw from the treaty."

Phrasal Verbs

bring about

To cause something to happen or exist.

"The new policy is expected to bring about significant changes in the economy."

cut off

To prevent someone or something from continuing their activity or progress; to isolate.

"The heavy snowfall cut off access to the remote village."

shut down

To close a business or organization permanently; to stop operating.

"The factory had to shut down due to a lack of funding."

call out

To draw attention to someone's bad behavior or a problem.

"It's important to call out injustice wherever you see it."

hold accountable

To consider someone responsible for something and expect them to explain their actions.

"The public demanded that corrupt officials be held accountable for their actions."

stand up for

To support or defend a particular idea or a person when they are being attacked.

"We must learn to stand up for our rights and beliefs."

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