Image Courtesy: jansatta.com
The New Indian Express reports today, January 10, that the Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Sarswati has set up a ‘Dharam Censor Board’ to review and analyse the content of films and web series on OTT. The objective is to ensure no “hurting religious sentiments in the name of entertainment.”
This “Board”, the constitution of which was announced in Prayagraj, last week, was formally set up in Haridwar on Sunday, June 8.
The religious preacher said that the central office of the ‘Dharam Censor Board’ also known as ‘Dharam Shodhan Sewalaya’ would be inaugurated in Delhi, the national capital, on January 15. The guidelines that the Board would follow would be released on Magh Mela premises of Prayagraj on January 19. The censor board has come up amidst the ongoing controversy over the song ‘Besharam Rang….’ of Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Pathan’. The movie is set for theatrical release on January 25.
Significantly, the “outrage” and controversy over the Pathan song which features Deepika Padukone in saffron attire. A number of far right-wing organisations objected to it while threatening to boycott the film in theatres.
According to sources, the 10-member Dharam Censor Board would even set up its offices in different states. According to Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the Dharam Censor Board would delve deep into the content of films, web series, TV serials, and the school curriculum being offered. “It will also look into the characters, their dialogues and delivery, colours being used and sequences being shown in the name of showbiz.
The Board will “recommend action” on finding the distortion of content related to Hinduism, Vedas and Puranas in the films and serials,” said the cleric. He added that the board would also act under the ambit of law against those found mocking the Sanatan way of life or chanting the mantras wrong.
The board “would also help the filmmakers”, who will be interested in making religion-based films, said the Shankaracharya, with content and script. Swami Avimukteshwaranand has been appointed the patron of the Dharam Censor Board and Suresh Manchanda its media in charge.
The other Board members include a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Dr PN Mishra, Sanatan Dharm preacher Swami Chakrapani, litterateur Dr Neerja Madhav, actor Mansi Pandey, vice president, UP Film Development Corporation, Tarun Rathi, social activist Capt Arvind Singh Bhadauria, Sanskrit litterateur Preeti Shukla, an expert on Sanatan Dharm, Dr Gargi Pundit and former director of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Dr Dharmveer.
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