NEW DELHI: A total of 11 feature films were refused Censor certificate during 2007, as compared to 59 in 2006 and 18 in 2005.

Apart from these, the Central Board of Film Certification cleared a total of 395 films with cuts during 2007, as compared to 453 in 2006 and 473 in 2005.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that this indicated a continuous liberalization of censorship as the number of films refused certification or cleared with cuts had come down over the years.

I&B minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said in Parliament that the CBFC certifies films in accordance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Rules and Guidelines framed thereunder. (These guidelines were last revised on 6 December, 1991).

The guidelines particularly ensure that films or scenes are not allowed where anti-social activities such as violence are not glorified and justified, pointless or avoidable scenes of violence, cruelty and horror, scenes of violence primarily intended to provide entertainment and such scenes as may have the effect of desensitizing or dehumanizing people are not shown; human sensibilities are not offended by vulgarity, obscenity, or depravity; words with dual meaning as obviously cater to baser instincts are not allowed; scenes degrading or denigrating women in any manner or showing sexual perversions are shown.

CBFC sources said a total of 10551 certificates during the year 2006, as against 7417 during 2005. A total of 3454 certificates were issued to celluloid films and 7097 certificates to video films during this period. These consisted of 1091 Indian feature films (celluloid), and 336 foreign feature films (Celluloid).

Out of 1636 Indian feature films (Celluloid & Video) certified during the period, 1130 were granted “U” certificates, 270 “UA” certificates, and 236 “A” certificates. Similarly, of the 1080 foreign feature films certified in the year, 460 were granted “U” certificates, 269 “UA” certificates, and 351 “A” certificates.

The Board certified a total of 7242 Indian short films during 2006, of which 6717 were granted “U” certificates, 359 “UA” certificates, 165 “A” certificates. A total of 7097 certificates were issued to video films. Of these, there were 545 Indian feature films, 744 foreign feature films, 5494 Indian short films, 235 foreign short films, 75 Indian and 4 foreign films belonging to the “Others” category (long films other than feature).