The Ministry of Law and Justice has reportedly abolished the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) with immediate effect. Filmmakers and producers took to Twitter to express their disappointment. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta tweeted on Wednesday: "Do the high courts have a lot of time to address film certification grievances? How many film producers will have the means to approach the courts? The FCAT discontinuation feels arbitrary and is definitely restrictive. Why this unfortunate timing? Why take this decision at all?" Amitabh Bachchan’s Chehre to Rana Daggubati’s Haathi Mere Saathi: Latest COVID-19 Spike Forces Filmmakers To Delay Releases.

"Such a sad day for cinema. FILM CERTIFICATION APPELLATE TRIBUNAL ABOLISHED | 6 April, 2021," expressed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Producer Guneet Monga reacted: "How does something like this happen? Who decides ?" Producer and trade business analyst Girish Johar tweeted: "With #FCAT dissolved by Govt, mayb a larger body may come up, setup by Govt, which will not only address censor grievances of films, but raised issues of other content as well..#Online #OTT #Short #SocialMedia..kuchch toh aayega, makers cant afford, nor Govt can't burden courts more." The Big Bull to Arjun Chakravarthy: Here’s How Filmmakers Take a Page Out of Their Own Book.

Vishal Bhardwaj Expresses Disappointment

Check Out Hansal Mehta's Tweet Below:

Guneet Monga Unhappy With Govt's Decesion

Before releasing in theatres, every film in India has to be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification or CBFC, which is also often referred to as the Censor Board. However, if any filmmaker is unhappy with a change suggested by the CBFC, they could go and challenge the decision at FCAT. With FCAT abolished, filmmakers unhappy with CBFC's decision will now have to go to court with grievances. Films that have been benefitted by FCAT in the recent past, include "Udta Punjab" (2016), "Lipstick Under My Burkha" (2017), "Babumoshai Bandookbaaz" (2017), "Kaalakaandi" (2018) and "Rangeela Raja" (2019) among others.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2021 05:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).