Central Bureau of Film Certification welcomes Vidya Balan as proud member

Central Bureau of Film Certification welcomes Vidya Balan as proud member

Central Bureau of Film Certification (CBFC), headed by Prasoon Joshi, who replaced the controversial Pahlaj Nihalani has welcomed Bollywood actress Vidya Balan as its new proud member .

That Vidya Balan is a good actress with the ability to perform many different types of roles, whether it is in mainstream films or more offbeat ones, is a widely held opinion. What can be predicted based on her career thus far is that she is a good pick for the board, which had been suffering from bureaucratic, corruption-related issues in the midst of longstanding attempts to amend The Cinematograph Act.

Balan has been an insider in the industry since her Hum Paanch days in the 90s. She has seen Indian cinema evolve over the years; from masala films like Karan Arjun, to family entertainers like Hum Saath Saath Hai, to brave films like Damini, to the typical Govinda dance-and-comedy flicks like Hero No. 1, to Anurag Kashyap’s brand of raw cinema and the increase in the number of films sensitive about women’s issues. She has been witness to the changed way in which cinema is consumed, in terms of braver content, more risque subjects, an increasingly unabashed portrayal of things which are considered taboo, such as violence, and a more nuanced storytelling style.

This is not to say that all of Bollywood has progressed and that no regressive content exists. But an awareness of the direction that cinema is taking today is necessary for two things to occur: A fair judgment for those films which are considered problematic — such as Udta Punjab, which highlighted the prevalent problem of drugs in the state and was met with opposition from the CBFC — as well as taking a keen eye to those films which may actually be a cause of concern because of their content, such as films which normalise caste atrocities or violence against women.

The prediction that Balan’s appointment will be good for the future of Indian films is also based on her filmography.