Hope Shyam Benegal committee report is implemented soon: Sudhir Mishra

Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) Director Sudhir Mishra on Friday said he hopes that filmmaker Shyam Benegal's report, as part of a committee to revamp the censor board, is implemented soon.

"I hope Shyam Benegal committee's report is implemented very soon because he is the most idealistic and knowledgeable filmmaker we have in the country. I think it is a great idea that the government made him the head of the committee, which will relook censorship and certification in the time of the internet," Mishra said.

"This is a very old set of rules you work with. Time has totally changed. I think it will be implemented very soon," the "Yeh Saali Zindagi" helmer said at a screening of films directed by The Homeless Children of Vatslya Foundation on Thursday.

Benegal was handed the responsibility of revamping the guidelines in the censor board, with numerous established names such as Kamal Haasan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra among others in the committee, in January this year.

The committee submitted its report in April.

He added, "Cinema is a voluntary act; you buy a ticket and then watch it. If you don't want to see it, you walk out. I mean everybody is entitled to his or her view so if television, media is allowed their point of view then why not filmmakers?"

"We are not saying don't criticise the film; see it, criticise it, but don't stop it from viewing. Don't stop its release."

The debate on the working of the censor board has been triggered by the current impasse between the board and the film "Udta Punjab" over too many cuts suggested in the film by the board.

Backing the film, Mishra said, "This is not a new thing. When I made "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi" and "Dharavi", I had to face same kind of problems. I think one individual or a set of individuals can't determine the morality of the country. Audience has a mature view."

Should under-fire Pahlaj Nihalani, the head of the Central Board of Film Certification of India, be replaced? Mishra replied, "I don't talk about individuals. We are only saying there is a certification board, you only certify and work within the constitution and the set parameters."

Mishra is coming up with a political thriller "Daasdev", starring Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari and Rahul Bhat in lead roles.