There has been widespread protests from the film fraternity against the bill
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin urged the Union Government to withdraw the controversial draft of the Cinematograph (Amendment) bill 2021. As per the draft of the amendment bill, the Center aims to penalise film piracy and empower the central government to order recertification of an already certified film following receipt of complaints. He wrote, “A vibrant democracy must provide adequate space for creative thinking and artistic freedom. However, the proposed amendment to the Cinematograph Act seeks to restrict it by restoring the revisionary powers of the Union Government that was struck down by the Supreme Court two decades ago.” Actor Suriya took to his social media handle to write, “Law is meant to protect the freedom of expression..it is not supposed to strangle its voice.”
There has been widespread protests against the bill as the film fraternity feels that this would lead to thwarting of the freedom of expression and creativity and it would trespass into the state’s machinery of accreditation of films. Kamal Haasan tweeted, “Cinema, media and the literati cannot afford to be the three iconic monkeys of India. Seeing, hearing and speaking of impending evil is the only medication against attempts to injure and debilitate democracy.”
