The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : I will perform the balancing act, says Babu Rammasami

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

I will perform the balancing act, says Babu Rammasami

Ashok Kumar

"We will work keeping in mind the regional requirements and sensitivities. An officer is supposed to be aware of all these things"

Babu Rammasami, Regional Officer, Central Board Of Film Certification. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: A film director and producer from Chennai, product of the Film and Television Institute, Adyar, and first winner of director K. Subramaniam award from the institute, Babu Rammasami, during his stint with the Films Division, produced technical films for Agriculture, Family welfare and Defence Ministries. His films have won national and international awards. He has taken charge as the Regional Officer, Central Board of Film Certification in Chennai, recently.

Guidelines

As an experienced government employee for over two decades, Mr. Rammasami told The Hindu that "My intention is to work as per the board's guidelines. The board will be guided by the Chairperson..."

But then the guidelines are age-old. How would he work with them?

"Guidelines have a broader stipulation and definition and are subject to interpretation. We will work keeping in mind the regional requirements and sensitivities. An officer is supposed to be aware of all these things. Being a Tamilian is an advantage to me. I will definitely educate myself more about the sensibilities and deal with individual cases separately."

Several sections have a grouse that the board is liberal while dealing with some films and not so with some other. "These are again perceptions of individual film makers and producers. I will be performing a balancing act without much deviation from the guidelines and will manage the show in good spirit. I will take necessary steps depending upon the issue, the creativity of the filmmaker and the subject involved. As far as the board is concerned, the regional officers' job is to show the film to the advisory panel members and the board whenever required. The regional office takes the opinion based on a consensus arrived at by members while certifying a film. We will be considerate to the requirements of the filmmakers. But they must not take undue advantage in the name of commercialisation."

He said his predecessors enlightened the public and the filmdom about the working of the board through the media. "I will continue to work in that direction."

Mr. Rammasami at this stage does not want to get himself involved in a discussion on points raised by Vijayakant, president, Theninthiya Nadigar Sangam, and Kamal Haasan, about the constitution of the Board and replacing political appointees with those from different walks of life. "However, I would like to add more names from literature, filmmaking, psychology, education and other walks of life.

As for the present he is pleased "to give something back to the place I belong. I am indebted to Chennai. I want to give my best as far as possible."

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