The Union Cabinet approved revisions to the Cinematograph Act, 1952 on Wednesday, which will be a huge relief to the film industry. It attempts to end the threat of movie piracy and thoroughly solve problems with film certification. The goal of the bill, according to Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs, and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur, is to ensure that movies are not harmed by piracy, as the threat results in significant losses for the industry. The bill will be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament.
The Cinematograph Act of 1952 was amended and approved: You are in grave risk, so beware of film thieves.
According to the Cinematograph (Amendment) Law 2023, it is now illegal to record and show movies in movie theaters without permission. Also, websites that distribute pirated copies of movies might now be blocked by the authorities.
According to Central Board of Film Certification member Vani Tripathi Tiku, “It was long overdue. I have repeatedly stated that the Act is being discussed for amendment, but that the text itself has also altered. In actuality, it ought to be illegal and punishable as a crime to pirate movies. You must understand that movie piracy is connected to the global cartel industry, including the mafia and drug cartels in numerous nations.
As their money is on the line when a movie is made, producers have welcomed the modification in particular. That is “a much-needed, constructive step,” according to producer Boney Kapoor, whose 2022 Tamil film Valimai was leaked on internet by pirates shortly after its release. “This would aid in controlling the scourge of film piracy and age-based categories will be introduced for certification for standard classification of films across all platforms,” says Shibasish Sarkar, president of the Producers Guild of India.
This is a ground-breaking development, says prominent attorney Hitesh Jain, who was crucial in advancing the interests of the entertainment sector. The system will become very process-oriented as a result of these changes. Also, the UA certification’s age-based classification is a very advanced move.