Government may do away with 'no smoking' warnings in films

Anti-smoking disclaimers, long a bone of contention between the Censor Board and film producers, is most likely to finally go.

This, a fallout of politicians from the ruling party claiming there is no definitive proof of tobacco consumption being responsible for cancer.

Sources in the government say these declarations could well sound the death knell for the mandatory warnings producers were forced to insert into their films. Sources even say the government is on the verge of scrapping the warnings

Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Pahlaj Nihalani certainly seems to agree that the tobacco disclaimers should go missing from films.

Says Nihlani, "As a filmmaker I know how painful it is to have anti-smoking videos inserted in the beginning and middle of your film. The first shot of the film establishes a rapport with the audience. Likewise just after interval you need to capture your audiences' attention after they've gone out of the theatre to refresh themselves. When you take away the film from the director at those two crucial points of the story (the beginning and middle) you are essentially robbing him of his creative rights. That isn't fair specially when you are not a smoker. Why should you have your film and the audiences' mood spoilt? The anti-smoking disclaimers should go."

CRINGEWORTHY WARNINGS

MUKESH KI MAUT: Remember the guy on his deathbed who morbidly proclaimed "main marnewala waala hoon" because of 'tambakhu ka sevan'. We'd rather not, either. Specially since we don't smoke.

TAR, AAPKO BIMAAR: We get it, our lungs are sponges. But do we want to see how it looks from the inside? And really, are we going to be able to squeeze the tar out of it, if we were smokers? Utterly pointless.

PAPA, DON'T PUFF: Chainsmoking dad? Check! Irresponsible parent? Check! Daughter who suffers from passive smoking, but is too dazed to know what's happening? Check! But what has that got to do, with the film to follow?

FILMS THAT WERE HIT

AGNEEPATH: The paua stayed in focus in Chikni Chameli, but the beedi-chillum became blurred lines.

BLUE JASMINE: Woody Allen refused to release the film in India because he didn't want no warning. Cause ain't nobody got time for that!

UGLY: One disclaimer kills the entire film, proclaimed Anurag Kashyap said. We can't agree more.

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-no-more-no-smoking-warnings-2075209