From censorship to certification: Have movies been set free?

Just days after the 5 August uprising, the film 'My Bicycle', directed by Aung Rakhine, was screened at Suhrawardy Udyan Open Stage. The Chakma-language film had previously been one of the many victims of the notorious Bangladesh Film Censor Board.

With the fall of the previous government, filmmakers and artists began speaking out about the years of suppressed creative liberty within the film industry, with many hoping for a positive change.

And after years of continuous demands to dissolve the Bangladesh Film Censor Board, the government officially responded by establishing the 'Bangladesh Film Certification Board' on 22 September.

A gazette notification from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the formation of a new 15-member certification board committee, by the order of the president. 

Members of the committee include notable figures such as filmmaker, Dr Zakir Hossen Raju, producer Rafiqul Anwar Russell, filmmaker Zahid Hossen, film editor Ikbal Ehsanul Kabir, actress Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, filmmaker Khijir Hayat Khan, and filmmaker Tasmiya Afrin Mau.

On paper, this change in direction seems positive. 

Throughout the world, films are placed in categories instead of being banned or censored. This allows the audience to decide for themselves which content they want to consume and whether it is the most appropriate for them.

But now, subsequent conversations and queries have risen in regards to how this new system is going to function, why it is necessary and what the future holds for Bangladeshi movies.

The key distinction between a censor board and a certification board lies in their function — the censor board primarily focused on approving films for release, with the authority to request certain scenes be removed or reshot. 

In contrast, a certification board evaluates films and certifies them for specific audiences. Some films may be approved for adult audiences only, which influences when they can be shown in cinemas, while others may receive universal general approval, allowing them to be screened without any restrictions.

The newly established certification board will be responsible for assessing both locally produced and imported films for various audiences, assigning appropriate ratings (such as U, G, PG, M, 18+, etc.). 

Its role is to maintain artistic integrity by certifying films without modifying their content, while also providing guidelines for suitable screening times in cinemas. 

However, the film certification board also holds the right to refuse grading films. 

"Internationally, the option to refuse certification is always there. At the moment, we have the right to reject films too," said  certification board member Rafiqul Anwar  Russell.

However, according to Russell, at the moment, certification operates on a very narrow range of age group selections, which stands as an obstacle in defining the vast range of films. 

For example, even though Ryan Reynolds' 'Deadpool' is a superhero film which is appealing for children, it is also a vulgar film with a lot of R-rated content. Classifying such films under a specific grading is thus difficult.

But other countries have perfected the art of dealing with similar issues. The 'PG13' category, for instance, was created in the US over a debate over the film 'Temple of Doom', which did not quite fit under the narrow age group grading categories in the past.

Russell clarifies that the certification board is in its early stages and as long as the rules are not established properly, they will have to follow the existing rules for the time being. 

However, he believes it is his duty to protect freedom in the industry, and believes in maintaining a liberal stance when it comes to grading films. 

While Russell remains optimistic about reformations of film certification, he also points out that filmmakers now have different avenues to explore. 

"Before, other opportunities such as OTTs did not exist. By any slim chance, if we refuse certification, it can go through other avenues such as streaming platforms, where there are less obstacles," commented Russell. 

Russell also believes that the certification will at least categorise films to allow people to understand what type of audience it is more suitable for. 

"Categories and ratings are crucial because not every film is suitable for all audiences. For instance, the movie 'Nodorai' was stuck at the censor board for an extended period. It was not because of violence or explicit scenes. The film used a lot of obscene language, to the point where they felt like they needed to intervene," commented Russell.

When it comes to censorship, the perspective of the industry is completely the opposite. 

Director and musician Masud Hasan Ujjal believes that there is no space for censorship in the film industry.

"Throughout the world, only in non-democratic countries can we see cases of films getting banned. But we are a democratic country, and in the past we have seen the censor board banned films," shared Ujjal.

He also feels that, while social media has provided a platform for the public's opinions, audiences should not make their decision to watch a film solely based on the views expressed by fans and viewers online. 

Instead, he believes the film should be allowed to speak for itself once it's shown on the big screen.

SM Imran Hossain, assistant professor and chairman of the Department of Television, Film and Photography at Dhaka University, gauges the development with mixed feelings.

"The certification board will decide what age range is appropriate for the movie. In contrast, there is no censor board for OTT platforms, which gives them a lot more freedom."

Yet, Imran warns that the industry must remain cautious with such freedom — it could get out of hand. 

Russell shares the same perspective when it comes to letting films go unvetted for the big screen.

"We might believe from a place of passion that censorship or certification is not needed. But we have a responsibility to ensure that the industry delivers appropriate content," he said.

"When it becomes a matter of communal harmony, the certification board has to be the judge of that and decide whether it is relevant," Russell further said.