Movie Channels
MIB orders WB to stop transmission for one day
NEW DELHI: It seems the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) keeps a close watch on channels that don’t follow the guidelines set for them. That is what is evident from a recent incident where the Ministry has cracked its whip on the international movie channel, WB (Warner Brothers). The Ministry has prohibited the transmission or retransmission of the of WB TV channel for one day throughout India later this month as a penalty for telecasting a V/UA certified film It’s a Boy Girl Thing on 7 January, 2013 at 11.51 am.
The prohibition on any platform throughout India will be with effect from 00.01 am on 24 January till 00.01 am on 25 January.
The action has been taken under in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) & (3) of Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and under paras 6.1 and 6.2 of the Guidelines for Downlinking from India.
The Ministry had issued a notice to the channel on 20 August last year as the telecast appeared to violate late Rule 6(l) (a), 6 (tXd), 6(l) (k) 6(l)(o) & 6 (5) of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the channel was asked to show cause within fifteen days.
While asking for a personal opportunity to explain their position, M/s Turner International India, the parent company of WB channel, in their reply of 2 September said it was not aware about the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) suggesting 15 voluntary cuts and l6 compulsory cuts in the film until the Ministry issued the notice. It further said all content telecast on the channel was reviewed by its Standards and Practice Department which had very strict mechanism to ensure that only appropriate material was played out in accordance with Indian requirements.
Turner further said that immediately upon receipt of the notice, the channel withdrew and stopped all further telecast of the film and indicated that the channel was willing to re-apply to the CBFC for re-certification of the film and would not telecast the same until a certificate was obtained by the CBFC. Furthermore, it said the CBFC Certificate available with it contained only the compulsory cuts without any reference to the voluntary cuts and that it had not questioned the completeness of the Censor Certificate and had made the edition and cuts based on the belief that the Censor Certificate available with them was the only, valid and complete Censor Certificate issued by the CBFC.
In the personal hearing given by the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the Turner representative issued an unconditional apology for airing the film with offensive content on television and admitted that it was a mistake on the part of their programme team. The Committee previewed the CD containing the film, considered the reply of the channel and the personal submissions made by the representative of the channel.
The Committee held that the channel had clearly violated the provisions of the Programme Code and observed that this kind of violation of the provisions of the 1995 Act and Rules framed there under was not acceptable. Though the channel had accepted their fault and apologised for their mistake, ‘they cannot escape the responsibility of ensuring that the content on their channel is in conformity with the Programme Code at all times. Moreover, before telecasting any film due diligence has to be done by the channel to assure that only certified version fully compliant with all necessary and voluntary deletions/editions is aired.
The Ministry said the film telecast by the channel shows ‘highly objectionable visuals which denigrate Women’.
‘The Visuals shown are very offensive and obscene as the private parts of male and female are focused upon. The portrayal of the sex change is in bad taste and is indecent. The visuals are not fit to be viewed by children and also not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition. These visuals also denigrate women,’ remarks the notice.
Rule 6 (1) (a) of the Programme Code contained in the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 provides that no programme should be carried in the Cable Service which offends good taste or decency. Rule 6 (l) (d) provides that no programme should be carried in the Cable Service which contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truth. Rule 6 (l) (K) provides that no programme should be carried in the Cable Service which denigrates women through the depiction in any manner of the figure of a women, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent or derogatory to women. Rule 6 (l) (o) & 6 (5) provides that no programme should be carried in the Cable Service which is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition and children viewing’.
In view of the apology by the channel and its reply, the Committee recommended the prohibition of the transmission/re-transmission of the channel throughout India for one day.
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
