Anti-smoking warnings in films may go

NEW DELHI: Statutory “smoking/tobacco kills” warnings on screen when an actor lights up in a movie may be done away with, after recommendations from a committee

NEW DELHI: Statutory “smoking/tobacco kills” warnings on screen when an actor lights up in a movie may be done away with, after recommendations from a committee headed by director Shyam Benegal, as such static, superimposed messages blight a film’s visual narrative.

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Instead, the committee recommended that a message underlining health hazards of smoking and tobacco consumption is sufficient at the beginning of a film or TV telecast for uninterrupted viewing.

“A meaningful static disclaimer in the beginning of the film with standard visual background approved by the ministry of health may be shown for a minimum period along with an audio backing it,” says a report of the eight-member panel on film certification to the information and broadcasting ministry. “This should be made in all Indian languages and made applicable to all media platforms.”

The government imposed a smoking ban, prohibiting films and TV shows from showing actors smoking, in 2005 after a public debate over tobacco control in India. Producers and broadcasters were told to insert a mandatory warning in scenes that demanded smoking visuals for authenticity.

The government has accepted the report, the panel’s second on smoking disclaimers and treatment of animals in films. The Benegal committee also has filmmakers Kamal Haasan and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey, and film critic Bhawana Somaaya.

The panel suggested the film industry to produce short antismoking films with popular actors, which are to be screened in theatres or aired on TV after clearance from the health ministry. These films can replace the spots shown at present. Another suggestion is to have short films with anti-smoking messages by the very actors shown smoking in a movie, which is running in theatres or broadcast on TV. The panel made its suggestions on animal cruelty also, saying the Animal Welfare Board of India’s nod is a must for films having performing animals. It said there should be “licensed suppliers” qualified in handling animals and taking care of them in accordance with the law.