The fight between the health ministry and the information & broadcasting (I&B) ministry over the proposed smoking rules for films seems to have been sorted out with the health ministry all set to re-notify new smoking rules soon.
According to the amended rules to be followed by “only by those movies having smoking scenes,” the filmmakers will have to give a 20-second audio-visual anti-smoking message — with a voice-over of one of the actors seen smoking in the film — to be displayed at the beginning and after the intermission for 15 seconds. Additionally, a static anti-smoking message “smoking kills” would have to be displayed for the duration of the smoking scene. Other than that, the smoking scenes will also have to be blurred.
The health ministry officials are finalising the text for voice over which may go like this — “some of the artists have been seen showing tobacco products but we do not endorse such products and tobacco is harmful”.
Additionally, some pictures showing the bad effects of smoking on health will also be shown before the movie starts,” a senior official in the health ministry said.
The new rules will have to be followed by old and current foreign films as well. However, a small distinction has been given to old films. “Since there is no requirement of certification in case of old films from the Censor Board, they will only have to display health spots before the movie starts and after the interval. The health warning will appear as static message,” added the official.
Officials say if the movies are coming on television, they will have to incorporate health warning messages.
“The rules apply to such films that are showing tobacco use scenes. Other movies are not covered by these rules,” cleared the official. The earlier notification which was to come into effect from November 14, 2011, made it mandatory for all new movies that have smoking scenes or tobacco use to provide valid explanations. It also made it compulsory for the authorities concerned to run a scroll, depicting anti-tobacco health warnings, at the bottom of the screen, during the scene.