Thanks to censor, tough time for filmmakers: Sanjay Suri

With the censor board becoming more strict with the kind of content being shown on big as well as small screen, actor-producer Sanjay Suri feels filmmakers are going through a tough time.

His "I AM" telecast on DD has been stopped because the film doesn't have a U-certificate, while it got the green signal for satellite channels. Sanjay alleges that the censor is trying to marginalise the audience.

"The film has a U/A certificate, which means it can be shown on satellite channels, but not Doordarshan. It means they are saying that the audience which is watching DD is not qualified enough to watch a U/A film... what kind of thinking is that? You are actually marginalising the audience," Sanjay told IANS at the ongoing 12th Osian's-Cinefan Film Festival.

Directed by Onir, "I Am" has been co-produced by the director and Sanjay, who also starred in the movie.

His Assamese film "As The River Flows" has been screened at the festival. The actor was accompanied by the film's director Bidyut Kotoky.

The 41-year-old expressed his dismay over statutory warnings that filmmakers are asked to put out saying: "Filmmakers are asked to put a warning here or there. It's a tough time."

The actor feels that the censors need to bring in a right rating system.

"A film showing hardcore violence is given a U/A certificate, while another showing a kiss is given an A certificate. What is more gross than watching an eight-year-old kid holding a gun and shooting a police officer in the film?

"The censors need to bring a proper rating system that such films should be for audiences aged 12, 15, 18 etc," he said.