Screening of PSA films mandatory before exhibition, says DC

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 15

Varinder Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner (DC), said today that the Public Service Awareness (PSA) films must be screened before the exhibition of each commercial film in the cinema halls and theatres in the district.

Divulging the details, the DC said as per the provisions in the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the rules framed by the respective state governments, it was mandatory for halls to screen such films.

He said even the Supreme Court of India has upheld the mandatory screening of the PSA films in the theatres. Sharma said the PSA films were screened to create awareness of the society on scientific, social and educational topics.The DC said the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had also taken a decision to waive off the one per cent rental earlier charged by the films division, with effect from June 30, 2016, to ensure better outreach of awareness films.

He said, thus, there was no financial burden on film exhibitors and theatre owners to procure the PSA films from the films division adding that the films division provides such films on contemporary subjects at regular intervals and makes it available through its branch offices across the country.

He said the films division provided all necessary support in this regard and they could be contacted at Director General Films Division, 24, Dr G Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai adding that telephone number of it was 022-23513633/ 23511008 and email id was [email protected].

The DC further said even Digital Service Providers were covered under the Cinematograph Act, as the term ‘Cinematograph’ has been defined under the Act as it includes any apparatus for representation of moving pictures or series of pictures.

The DC said, thus, the digital service providers were covered under the Act as an intention behind enactment of it clearly covers all modes of transmission, including that of digital service providers.

Fact file 

• Films must be screened before the exhibition of each commercial film
• The Supreme Court of India has upheld the mandatory screening of the PSA films in the theatres.
• The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had also taken a decision to waive the one per cent rental earlier charged by the films division, with effect from June 30, 2016.