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Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
A censor board that fears the truth is not protecting culture, it is impoverishing it
Written by Kumar Kartikeya The Kerala High Court recently pulled up the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for blocking the release of the film Janaki vs State of Kerala. By doing the same, it did more than merely resolve a regulatory delay; it exposed a constitutional fault line. The film had been reportedly withheld for over two months without any cogent justification. The CBFC had objected to the film's title, asking why it used the name Janaki which is mythologically associated with the goddess Sita, when the content dealt with a woman who was assaulted and took up a legal fight against the state. The court observed that merely naming a character Janaki does not amount to denigrating a deity, and sternly reminded the CBFC that its role is not to moralise or second-guess artistic choices. The controversy surrounding Janaki vs State of Kerala is just the tip of the iceberg in a broader and deepening crisis of censorship in India's film industry where constitutional limits are increasingly being replaced by cultural paranoia. The Janaki vs State of Kerala case joins a growing list of instances where the CBFC appears more committed to protecting majoritarian sentiments and political optics than upholding the right to free expression for artists. Films are being evaluated not on whether they meet statutory standards, but on whether they make some people uncomfortable. 'Cinema is the mirror of society,' Satyajit Ray once said, and like all good mirrors, it is bound to reflect blemishes, contradictions, and inconvenient truths. Today, that mirror is being compulsively polished by the censor board until only a flattering, sanitised reflection remains, or worse, one that serves an image of a certain ideology. The CBFC, once imagined as a certifying body, now functions less as a certifying authority and more as an ideological and moral censor. The CBFC draws its authority from the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which empowers it to certify films under categories like U, UA, A, and S. But in practice, this statutory role has mutated into an expansive censorship regime. The Board routinely demands edits, cuts, and modifications often based on vague standards and unwritten objections. This is a dangerous deviation from the law's original purpose. The CBFC's job is to classify content for viewer suitability, not to purge films of dissent, critique, or emotional complexity. In K A Abbas vs Union of India (1970), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of film censorship, but made it clear that any restriction must be reasonable, necessary, and proportionate. In Shankarappa (2001), the Court warned that once an appellate authority clears a film, the government must step aside. Yet, indirect censorship continues through delays, opaque objections, and bureaucratic silence. If political sensitivities drive one half of censorship and moral anxieties drive the other, then cinema can never fully depict the realities of society. The CBFC routinely asks to blur, cut, or ban content based on what it vaguely deems to offend Indian culture. Films that challenge social conventions on gender, caste, sexuality, or religion often face disproportionate scrutiny. The refusal to clear Lipstick Under My Burkha in 2017 for being 'lady-oriented' was not an aberration but a pattern. The Bombay High Court rightly overruled the CBFC, but the message was clear: Films that challenge existing power structures will be made to wait, or worse, whittled down until they are safe to screen. Even the internet, once imagined as a free space for expression, is now being drawn into the censorship net. Over-the-top (OTT) platforms are subject to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which require them to comply with an undefined code of ethics and a grievance redressal framework. But in a constitutional democracy, offence alone cannot justify suppression. Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression. While Article 19(2) allows reasonable restrictions, they must relate directly to public order, decency, morality, or the sovereignty of India not discomfort with truth or ideological deviation. Content that incites violence, promotes child abuse, or disrupts public peace can and should be regulated. But discomfort is not danger. And disagreement is not disloyalty. The CBFC's current approach creates a dangerous chilling effect. Filmmakers increasingly self-censor to avoid costly delays, negative publicity, or financial risk. Scripts are rewritten, themes diluted, and visuals edited — all before a single frame reaches the audience. The result is not safer cinema, but blander art. When the state decides what is acceptable, art loses its ability to challenge, provoke, or inspire. What remains is not a mirror of society but a projection of power. The CBFC requires major reform. Its mandate must be strictly limited to preventing content that violates constitutional thresholds such as incitement to violence, child pornography, or extreme obscenity. Nothing more. Most importantly, viewers must be respected as capable citizens, not children in need of protection from adult realities. In censoring the stories we tell, we distort the stories we live through. The CBFC's job is not to make reality palatable, but to let cinema reflect it, honestly and completely. The more we hide from truth in art, the less we recognise ourselves in society. Discomfort, in a democracy, is not a threat. It is a necessity. And a censor board that fears the truth is not protecting culture, it is impoverishing it. The writer is a lawyer and legal researcher based in Delhi
Hans India
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Madhya Pradesh League: Kartikeya spins web as Rewa secure dominant win over Bundelkhand
Gwalior: Rewa Jaguars opened their Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 2025 campaign in style, registering a comprehensive 30-run victory over Bundelkhand Bulls in Match 3 at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Shankarpur on Friday. On a rain-hit day, left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya produced a match-defining spell to help his team secure their first win of the season. Earlier in the day, rain played spoilsport and resulted in the abandonment of the first game. However, the evening clash between Rewa and Bundelkhand was allowed to proceed in a truncated six-over format. Bundelkhand Bulls captain Harsh Gawli won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting Rewa Jaguars into bat. Rewa made the most of their allotted overs, putting up a commanding 87/3. Opener Prithviraj Singh Tomar gave the Jaguars an aggressive start with a quickfire 37 off 18 balls, striking cleanly from the outset. He was well supported by Sagar Solanki, who launched a late assault and remained unbeaten on 39 off just 12 deliveries. Despite the flurry of runs, Bundelkhand found some positives in their young bowler Priyanshu Mishra, who impressed with figures of 3/18 in his two overs. He accounted for all three wickets to fall in the innings. Chasing 88 for victory, Bundelkhand Bulls were under pressure from the start and failed to get into any sort of rhythm. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals, with Rewa maintaining tight lines and applying pressure throughout. It was the experienced Kumar Kartikeya who led the bowling attack and returned with exceptional figures of 3/12 in his two overs. He broke the back of the chase with his variations and control, never allowing the batters to settle. He was well supported by the rest of the Rewa bowling unit as Bundelkhand struggled to gain momentum. Eventually, the Bulls were restricted to 57/5, falling 31 runs short of the target. Despite a shortened contest, the game offered a glimpse of Rewa's depth and discipline in both departments.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
RR vs MI: Sandeep Sharma misses game due to broken finger as Rajasthan make 2 changes
Rajasthan Royals (RR) seamer Sandeep Sharma is set to miss the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) Match 50 against Mumbai Indians (MI) due to a broken finger. RR captain Riyan Parag gave the update on Sandeep's fitness at the toss as he opted to bowl first after winning the right-arm seamer hasn't had a memorable ongoing season, having scalped nine wickets from ten innings with best figures of 2/21 in four overs against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Sharma has been replaced by Akash Madhwal in the playing XI, who is set to make his debut for the Rajasthan Royals after being bought for Rs 1.20 2025: RR vs MI Updates There was one more change in the RR playing XI as Wanindu Hasaranga got ruled out due to a niggle and got replaced by Kumar Kartikeya. Hasaranga is the joint highest wicket-taker for RR in the ongoing season with ten wickets from eight matches.'We'll bowl first. We might see some dew later. Usually the wicket settles down a little later at night. Want to exploit that. We've kept it very simple regardless of winning or losing. Rahul sir has made it clear, we keep it simple whether we go high or low. Three games ago, the message was we take it one game at a time. If we play to our potential, we know how good we can be. Just want to give everyone the freedom to play their game. Couple of changes, Hasaranga has a niggle, Kumar Kartikeya comes in, Sandy (Sandeep Sharma) bhai has broken his finger so Madhwal comes in,' said Parag at the the other hand, Mumbai Indians didn't make any changes in the playing Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq FarooqiImpact Subs: Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Kunal Singh Rathore, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kwena MaphakaMumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton(w), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit BumrahImpact Subs: Raj Bawa, Satyanarayana Raju, Robin Minz, Reece Topley, Karn SharmaStay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!
United News of India
01-05-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
IPL 2025: Hasaranga out as RR bowl first against MI
Jaipur, May 1 (UNI) Rajasthan Royals made two changes for their high-voltage IPL 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians here on Thursday, with Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out due to a niggle and Sandeep Sharma sidelined after fracturing his finger. Kumar Kartikeya and Akash Madhwal were drafted into the XI as replacements. Winning the toss at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, RR skipper Riyan Parag opted to bowl first, expecting the conditions to favour the chasing side later in the evening. "We'll bowl first. We might see some dew later. Usually the wicket settles down a little at night. Want to exploit that," said Parag. He reiterated the team's focus on simplicity and consistency, adding, "If we play to our potential, we know how good we can be." Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya, who said he would have bowled first as well, stuck to an unchanged lineup. "It has always been about how we can play good cricket... quite confident about batting on this wicket. There hasn't been much dew around," he said. Both sides come into the match looking to consolidate their positions on the points table with the business end of the tournament fast approaching. Teams: Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi. Impact Subs: Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Kunal Singh Rathore, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kwena Maphaka Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton(w), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah. Impact Subs: Raj Bawa, Satyanarayana Raju, Robin Minz, Reece Topley, Karn Sharma UNI BDN CS
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First Post
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
IPL 2025: BCCI slapped with legal notice over naming AI robot dog 'Champak'
'Champak' the AI robot dog was introduced in the ongoing IPL season and went viral after making its debut during the Delhi Capitals-Mumbai Indians game on 13 April. Delhi Press, owner of a popular children's magazine that went by the same name, has since accused the BCCI of copyright infringement. read more Rajasthan Royals Kumar Kartikeya plays with the robot dog named Champak ahead of his team's home game against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. AP The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a notice from the Delhi High Court for naming the AI robot dog that is part of its coverage of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season 'Champak'. The BCCI has been accused of copyright infringement by Delhi Press Patra Prakashan, the publisher of 31 magazines in nine languages including a popular children's magazine by the same name. Advocate Amit Gupta, representing Delhi Press, argued that the BCCI's decision to name their 'AI tool' was a clear infringement of the publisher's registered trademark. ''This AI tool [robotic dog] has been named as Champak. The IPL has been going on. The product was introduced earlier but it was named later on April 23 purportedly based on fan voting,' Gupta submitted in his petition, according to Bar and Bench. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD BCCI's legal counsel clarifies the inspiration behind 'Champak' name for robot dog J Sai Deepak, the advocate representing the Indian cricket board at the Delhi High Court, clarified that the name 'Champak' had nothing to do with the children's magazine. Instead, the robot dog was named after Champaklal Jayantilal Gada, a recurring character in the popular television sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah portrayed by Amit Bhatt_._ The Court also quizzed Gupta as to why Delhi Press did not object to star batter Virat Kohli being nicknamed 'Cheeku', which is also which is the name of one of the magazine's characters. Gupta, however, replied by saying Kohli having the same nickname as one of their characters did not amount to commercial exploitation, which he claimed was the case when it came to Champak the robot dog. The Delhi HC, however, has refused to prove an interim injunction to Delhi Press in their petition, and has set 9 July as the date for the next hearing. We asked and you answered ✍️ Based on fan votes, we present 'Champak' - the newest member of our family 🗳🥳#TATAIPL — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 20, 2025 The robot dog had been introduced for the first time this IPL season during Delhi Capitals' home game against Mumbai Indians at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on 13 April and has since become something of a recurring character across matches, appearing at the toss and remaining on the sidelines thereafter. Players have also been spotted getting friendly with the robot dog from time to time, especially during practice sessions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Champak' was developed by broadcast technology company wTVision in collaboration with Omnicam and the BCCI and is equipped with advanced features. Not only can it perform a variety of movements including standing on its hind legs like dogs, it is also fitted with a high-definition camera that allows it to provide a unique glimpse into the action on the field. The name 'Champak' incidentally, was decided through an online fan poll conducted by the league. The winning name from the poll was announced via social media and through live telecast ahead of MI's home game against Chennai Super Kings on 20 April.
