Caravan reveals list of words banned by censor board: ‘Bombay’, ‘screw’, ‘masturbating’, ‘bastard’, ****ing **** & ‘double meaning of any kind of words’

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Friday, 13 February 2015 By Legally India Tech, Media, Comms

The Caravan magazine’s website has published an internal Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) memo to its regional offices, with a list of words that should be banned from movies and other media it is responsible for censoring.

The apparently stricter censorship regime, which first attracted attention earlier this month when a song’s lyrics in a music video were bleeped out during the word “Bombay”, includes 13 English language words and phrases and 15 in Hindi.

Disclaimer: Do not continue reading if you are easily offended. The following is reproduced for the purposes of study by academics and lawyers only.

It encompasses, at the tamer end of the spectrum:

Bastard

Son of a Bitch

Masturbating

Screw

Dick

Pussy

Asshole

The F word, is mentioned in five separate phrases and combinations, alongside slang for fellatio:

Fuck, Fucker or Fucking

Mother fucker

Fucking cunt

Fucking dick

Bitch or Fucking Bitch

Cock sucker

The Hindi list also outlaws “violence against woman” [sic], notes that “bloodshed should not be glorified”, that:

“change of name Bombay to Mumbai as per Govt of Maharashtra’s notification dated 4/9/96”

and apparently outlaws “double meaning any kind of words”.

So there, now we know.

Hat-tip @saliltripathi on Twitter

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Central Board of Film Certification censorship

Comments

XYZ 13 Feb 2015, 09:42

+3 -1

Whts wrong with Bombay ? !!!

fsdjio 13 Feb 2015, 10:11

+3 -4

Why make movies then? You buggers have taken expressions from artists and you still expect them to get Oscars for you. AIB Knockout was wrong but this is outrageous. Don't kill cinema.

Support Indian Cinema

abey bosedk 13 Feb 2015, 10:48

+3 -2

Kian should also release a list of banned words for moderating comments :)

kianganz 13 Feb 2015, 10:50

+8 -4

We will go and use the censor board's list. :)

Mr. X 13 Feb 2015, 12:21

+4 -1

Chicken and egg situation.

It is ok to display these words in a public notice but not say them in a movie?

Guest 13 Feb 2015, 12:28

+10 -1

how can pussy be an offending word? pussy is kitten. Similarly "cock" is a male hen. I dont know what dirty minds people have

Lol 13 Feb 2015, 13:21

+2 -1

Lol!

So is saali - Wife's sister

Bruh 14 Feb 2015, 04:10

+1 -0

They are also banned per item 15 of the Hindi list.

Bruh 14 Feb 2015, 04:12

+4 -0

I meant entry 15 and not item 15. Item is a deeply offending word and I am hereby issuing a public apology for hurting religious sentiments or whatever.

Moby 13 Feb 2015, 13:41

+7 -1

so moby dick cannot be re-made in India?

Gossipmonger 13 Feb 2015, 20:23

Use of word "Masturbating" is banned. Can they use the word "masturbate"? Or all cognates of a word are banned as well? #JustAsking

Must be misquoted 14 Feb 2015, 04:16

+0 -0

Gangs of Wasseypur would have such a hard time now.

Bombay Lawyer 14 Feb 2015, 10:11

+3 -0

Article 19(1)(a) seems a little pointless. Why don't we delete it? If there is no freedom of speech in fact, then why have it in law?
Shameful.

Commentator 14 Feb 2015, 11:53

Tits is not banned!!!

Mr. X 16 Feb 2015, 07:24

Rubbish! Article 19(1)(a) is not absolute. It is like asking for the deletion of Article 19(1)(d) because I am not allowed to enter a government office 'freely'.

Cheers!

Bombay Lawyer 17 Feb 2015, 08:16

Of course 19(1)(a) is not absolute. But the manner of limiting it is also provided for in the Constitution.

Article 19(2) provides for limitations on 19(1)(a). It mandates a 'law'. This circular is not 'law', at best, it can be said to be a 'provision' [much like what has been referred to in Articles 16(4) and (4A)]. The two are quite distinct in constitutional jurisprudence. Therefore, Article 19(1)(a) is watered down in a manner that is not mandated by the Constitution. In the present case the CBFC seems to be going beyond the scope of its powers and functions under the Act of 1952.

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