Cinema in Pakistan and the rating system

Pakistani cinema from its glory days fell to depths of irrevocable decline in the 90’s despite recent efforts to resuscitate it, it is next to impossible to restore it to what it once was…what is needed is reinventing and erecting a diverse industry based on altogether new foundations. To facilitate this, the CBFC recently allowed import of foreign films to be showcased in local cinemas after due censorship. This brings us to the point of discussion… what exactly are the censorship policies pertaining to the Paki-cinema?

Censorship in Pakistan is haphazardly applied, on the one side the censorship board has a strict official code of conduct and on the other side the film industry is producing B class movies which contain inappropriate content. How they get past the censorship board is a mystery in itself. Unfortunately these B class productions are the sole sustainers of the industry. Therefore what is needed is an appropriate rating system, and the ratings should be enforced by the theatre owners.

Internationally cinematic material is rated on the basis of content, following the international rating system. It is a voluntary system sponsored by the Motion Pictures Association and the National Association of theatre owners. This rating system is for local and foreign films alike, the purpose of this rating system is to restrict viewership, providing parents with advance information about a movie, creating a system of age appropriate stratification of privilege of viewing. In Pakistan the Central Board of Film Censorship (CBFC) is the regulatory body and the censorship board of Pakistan. The CBFC is governed by the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979 and rules made there under. Pakistan’s first R-rated movie was ‘Zinda Lash’ a horror movie starring the legendary Nadeem and the first adult rated film was ‘Neela Parbat’ released in 1969 which marked the end of the golden era of Pakistani cinema.

The rating system without the co-operation of theatre owners cannot be successful, at present cinemas do not restrict viewership of local or foreign films, you will find children watching adult movies at theatres, and the trend is prevalent even in the posh educated areas of cities like Lahore, take DHA cinema for example. This is careless media practice, robbing children of their innocence. There are an estimate 0.5 million street children in Lahore alone, these children spend mornings begging and evenings watching movies with explicit content.

Morality aside, this also affects the scope of cinema in Pakistan, limiting genres and a diversified demand. At present the film industry at national and provincial level churns out movie after movie with the same content, if the rating system was employed it would create demand for age specific cinema, e.g. we do not have children’s movies in Pakistan, even Bollywood has ventured forth and is focusing on children’s cinema. If the same was done in Pakistan it would open up new avenues for the industry and might aid in revitalizing the flaccid industry.

Written By: Saqib Shami