The health ministry has cracked its whip against actors smoking on screen. If tobacco or related product are shown in a movie, filmmakers would be required to give a written justification - apart from actors speaking about it's ill effects.
FOLLOWING THE footsteps set by former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss, the health ministry has come out strongly against actors smoking on screen. The new ministry ruling states that as soon as an actor lights up on screen a statutory message will be shown on screen in the form of a ticker and the actor would also be required to highlight the ill-effects of smoking.
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The law will be applicable for all the projects that would be going on the floor from Monday. Moreover, the makers of the project would also be required to give valid editorial justification to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) behind the use of tobacco or any other related product on screen. The deciding jury of the CBFC will also include a representative from the health ministry.
Before the commencement of the feature film or TV program, the concerned actor would be speaking about the ill effects of using tobacco for a time span of 20 seconds. In an attempt to keep the masses at bay from the brand the actor uses in the telecast, the name would be blurred.
As reported by zeenewsindia.com, a statement released by the health ministry on Friday said that, “India has the largest film producing industry and films have played a key role in the process of social change and in influencing the Indian culture. Thus, for the tobacco industry, films provide an opportunity to convert a deadly product into a status symbol or token of independence. The role of movies as vehicles for promoting tobacco use has become even more important as other forms of tobacco promotion are constrained.”
