Shyam Benegal panel submits report on censor board functioning

The Shyam Benegal-headed committee constituted by the Information and Broadcasting ministry to look holistically into the functioning of the censor board submitted its report to I&B minister Arun Jaitley today.

The panel was set up on January 1 to take a relook at the functioning of the controversy-ridden board, headed by Pahlaj Nihalani.

The panel also includes actor-filmmaker Kamal Hassan, filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey and film journalist Bhawana Somayaa, among others.

The committee was asked to take note of the best practices in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression.

It was also asked to recommend broad guidelines under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the Screening Committee.