The fight over the new rules for the film industry on smoking scenes is likely to be sorted out soon between the Union health ministry and the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry.
Months after the I&B ministry asked the film industry and health ministry to put the new rules in abeyance after the health ministry had notified them, the health ministry is all set to discuss the matter again with the I&B. This, with the backing of a law ministry’s recommendation that I&B cannot supersede their “legal order”.
Senior officials in the ministry disclosed that now that they have law ministry’s recommendation they will take up the matter again. “The work is in progress. We have got law ministry’s opinion and the file will now be put up before the Union health ministry so that it could be taken up again with the I&B,” added the official.
Finalised after a lot of deliberations with the higher authority in I&B ministry, the health ministry had in October 2011 had notified new rules for the film industry which came into effect from November 14.
“It was coveyed to the I and B and they had informed the film industry to comply with the rules. The health ministry had earlier even had meeting with the CBFC and sensitised them,” added the official.
However, the I&B later wrote to the health ministry saying that it would be difficult and expensive for the film industry to adhere to it and therefore should be put in abeyance. The health ministry then approached the law ministry for their opinion on the tussle. According to the new rules every time an actor is seen taking a puff on screen, a prominent scroll warning that smoking is injurious to health will run at the bottom. It was also asked that actor will personally read out the ill-effects of smoking.
The new rules said that all filmmakers depicting usage of tobacco will have to show a message or spot of minimum 30 seconds at the beginning and middle of the concerned film or TV programme.
There would also be a disclaimer of minimum 20 seconds duration by the actor regarding the ill effects of the use of such products in the beginning and middle of the film. Also, the names of brands of cigarettes and other tobacco products will also have to be blurred.