MAKING NOCs MANDATORY FOR FILMS
It is reported that the Defence Ministry has written to the CBFC advising all
films,documentaries, and web series based on the armed forces to obtain NOC
from the ministry. There is enough of unofficial censorship enforced sometimes
with violence affecting the Arts and movie industry. It appears to me that the
government instead of strengthening existing institutions for checks and
balances are undermining them! Those in the industry are already harassed and
their creativity dampned and rue the bureaucratic red tape and middlemen
created with massive corruption added. There is danger of government being on
the way to become control freaks and if we do not stop them now, especially
since Covid has kept all people at home, they may have to take NOCs from every
ministry, industry or collector etc! There should be just one official
authority like there already is for clearing films and it is pathetic that
after cleareance, some religious or politically backed authority based on
someone's sentiments throws a spanner in the works ruinning creativity,
stopping all others from enjoying movies and severely damaging law and order
and the concept of democracy and freedom! Besides perhaps required for
documentaries, this censorship is unecessarly stunting every aspect of a
progressive nation!
