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Rules CBFC Must Reconsider UA Rating Granted To Film The Girl Friend
The has directed the to revisit the certification of the Telugu feature film The Girl Friend . In a significant order issued by Hon’ble Sri Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka, the Court mandated that the regulatory body reconsider the film’s "U/A 13+" rating within four weeks, citing the potential impact of specific scenes on underage viewers.
A Challenge to Cinematic Certification
The dispute originated from a filed by Arokya Swamy Joseph, who approached the Court as a concerned observer of societal moral values. The petitioner took issue with several sequences in the film, specifically those set within a women’s hostel. He argued that the depicted conduct of the male lead entering the hostel at night, combined with dialogue justifying the behavior based on "consenting adults," sent an inappropriate message to adolescents aged 12 to 18. Furthermore, the petitioner highlighted a scene involving the lead actor changing clothes in a corridor as particularly unsuitable for the film’s current classification.
The respondents—the and the CBFC—contended that the film had undergone a rigorous examination process. They maintained that an , consisting of an Examining Officer and four Advisory Panel Members, had reviewed the content in accordance with the , and the relevant Guidelines issued under Section 5B(2). They argued that the Board had acted within its and noted that the film already included a disclaimer regarding cinematic liberties.
of Statutory Oversight
While the Court acknowledged that the CBFC followed the procedural requirements laid out in the , it clarified that procedural compliance does not shield a certification decision from . Justice Bheemapaka emphasized that the Court is not acting as an over content, but rather ensuring that the balance between artistic freedom and the protection of minors is maintained in accordance with the law.
Addressing the maintainability of the petition, the Court rejected the distributor's argument that the petitioner lacked . It ruled that the challenge concerned a core performed by the CBFC, and therefore, the petition was not limited to the interests of the film's makers or distributors alone.
Key Observations from the Bench
The High Court’s ruling underscored the responsibility of the Board in assigning age-appropriate tags:
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"Certification is not merely a procedural exercise but involves balancing freedom of artistic expression with the legitimate interest of protecting children and adolescents from age-inappropriate content."
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"These are not isolated objections to individual scenes but constitute the cumulative basis on which petitioner contends that the overall theme of the film is unsuitable for adolescent viewers."
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"While this Court is not inclined to interfere with the artistic content of the film, it finds merit in the grievance relating to the category of certification."
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"This Court therefore, holds that the Telugu feature film ‘The Girl Friend’ ought to have been granted ‘A’ Certificate instead of ‘UA 13+’ Certificate."
Implications for Future Filmmaking
The decision serves as a reminder to regulatory bodies that while artistic liberty is protected, the categorization of films must remain aligned with the statutory objectives of shielding younger populations from mature or sensitive thematic elements. By directing the CBFC to reconsider the certification, the Court has reinforced the principle that the "UA" versus "A" distinction is a substantive matter of public interest, rather than a mere administrative label. The CBFC is now tasked with issuing a fresh decision on the status of the film within the stipulated four-week timeframe.
