As the Madras High Court deliberates on the legal tussle surrounding actor Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan', veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has ignited a fierce debate that goes far beyond a single movie. He has launched a direct and comprehensive attack on the very concept of film censorship in India, declaring the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) an institution that has outlived its purpose and crossed its expiry date.
RGV's Blunt Verdict: The Censor Board is Obsolete
Taking to social media, Ram Gopal Varma did not mince words. He stated unequivocally that the CBFC, commonly known as the Censor Board, is no longer relevant. "CENSOR BOARD is OUTDATED," he wrote, clarifying that his criticism was not just about the specific case of 'Jana Nayagan' but a systemic issue. He labeled the belief in the board's current relevance as foolish.
Varma placed part of the blame on the film industry itself for its silence, suggesting the archaic system persists because of collective inertia. He argued that while censorship might have had a rationale in a pre-internet era, it is utterly pointless today when all forms of content are freely accessible online.
The Digital Age Argument: Why Censorship Fails Now
RGV built a compelling case by contrasting controlled cinema with the wild west of the internet. He pointed out the stark reality: a child with a smartphone can access extreme violence, hardcore pornography, extremist propaganda, and conspiracy theories—all uncut and uncensored. Meanwhile, abusive language is rampant on prime-time television debates and social media platforms.
He questioned the fundamental logic of meticulously censoring films when far more potent and unfiltered content is available at everyone's fingertips. "If people still argue that cinema is powerful, they must remember that social media has far more reach than films today," Varma asserted. He dismissed the idea that making small cuts in movies offers any real protection to society as unserious thinking.
A Plea for Trust and a New System of Thinking
According to the filmmaker, modern censorship is not about protection but about maintaining a facade of control—mere theatrics. He criticized the paternalistic assumption that audiences are perpetual children who need guidance. "Cinema is not meant to teach lessons like a classroom. They are mirrors, view points, expressions and opinions meant to entertain," he stated.
RGV expressed support for age-based classification and content warnings, mechanisms that inform rather than restrict. However, he firmly rejected outright censorship. He likened the CBFC to a watchman guarding a building whose walls have already crumbled, a futile exercise.
The core of his argument was a call to trust the viewer. He believes the authorities' role should be to empower people to make their own choices, not to act as moral scissors. Varma concluded with a challenge, asking if the authorities and the film industry have the courage to admit the board's obsolescence. He urged for a fight not over individual films, but against the "particular system of thinking which created the censor board."
This bold commentary comes against the backdrop of the ongoing legal proceedings. The Madras High Court, led by a Chief Justice bench, recently examined the urgency of the CBFC's appeal against an earlier order that supported 'Jana Nayagan'. The court also scrutinized whether the board was given a fair hearing previously. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 21.
