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February 23, 2006
The Central Government of India issued a directive recently that bans usage of animals in films without permission. The filmmaker should obtain permission from Goverment before shooting any scenes that involve animal.
Here is the documented information given by PETA (People for the Ethnical Treatment of Animals)
Under the Performing Animals Rules 1973, it is mandatory for anyone using an animal for the purpose of entertainment to which admission is charged to apply to the government for permission, stating exactly what the animal will be required to do. A copy of this permission certificate has to be submitted to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Check with AWBI to see if this permission has been granted. If not, file in court to restrain distribution and exhibition of the film.
• Even if permission to use animals in films is granted, it is still a punishable act to inflict any manner of pain or suffering on them.
• If the filming of the scene has violated any provisions of the PCA or Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 (WPA), the director, animal supplier or owner or any other person responsible can be fined, imprisoned or both. The animal may be confiscated from the owner.
• If you are present during film shooting and witness cruel treatment of an animal, you can file an FIR at the closest police station under Section 11 of the PCA. If possible, ask the police to accompany you to stop the crime in progress. Ask police officers to check on the status of the permission certificate for the use of animals. You can also contact the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and request an inspector.
• The animal protection and cinematography laws apply equally to the use of animals on TV. Violations should be reported to the head of the TV channel broadcasting the programme. Cases can be filed against the producer and director, whose names are usually listed at the end of the programme.
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It is in the hands of censor board officers now to look for animal usage in films and ask the filmmaker to produce permissions.
The penalty for violating the Cinematography Act by including scenes of cruelty to animals is the removal of the scene from the film by the Censor Board.
The addresses of the offices of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) are:
• CBFC, Shastri Bhawan, 35 Haddows Road, Chennai-6
• CBFC, 8 Esplanade East, Calcutta-69
• CBFC, Opp MLA Qtrs, Adarah Nagar, Damayani Complex, II Floor, Hyderabad
• CBFC, 27 Roshni, Infantry Road, Bangalore-1
• CBFC, Chalchitra Kala Bhawan, Vazhatha Caod, Trivandrum-14 |
Lots of films that are being produced and are ready for the release are facing problems at Censor Board. These rules are made strict only in the last couple of months. Showing bullock carts (driven by bullocks), caged parrots, dogs is very normal in films. Even for showing such animals (without any abuse) all the filmmakers need to apply to the Government and take permission. This process delays the production of the film, which in turn will affect the producer adversely as almost all the producers produce films on call money. Due to this delay, the producer need to shell out more money in terms of interest. Even if you shoot a scene in which an animal or a bird appears accidentally, the producer is going to suffer because he need to produce permission letter to Censor Board.
Animals/birds should not be misused and the people responsible for that should be punished. But getting permission for normal use of animals/birds curtail artistic freedom of the director and increases the planning of the producer.
Whether this debatable new enforcement is a boon or a bane to the industry would only be decided as times goes along, it certainly calls for the makers to get their acts right, in terms of planning ahead - be it animal usage or budget usage. |
