MPA gets tough

Komal Nahta

The Delhi-UP trade body, Motion Pictures Association (MPA) has become strict off late. At a meeting held on April 17, it was resolved that the MPA would itself monitor the screening of 'bits' in sexy films and report the matter to the police.

The menace of adding uncensored portions - called masala in filmi parlance - has assumed gargantuan proportions all over India.

Realising that it is not just illegal to add 'bits', but these are also eating heavily into the collections of big films for which distributors are paying huge prices, the MPA decided to act - and act it did.

The membership of erring exhibitors and distributors may also be suspended.

Another decision taken by the MPA was that depots would not be entertained by distributors except for Eastern UP. It was felt that depots undersold the films and, thereby, caused losses to distributors.

Also MPA is likely to implement the rule that old films must not be allowed to be re-released under new names. The practice of changing titles and reviving old films under the new titles is very common in Delhi-UP.

Actually, this business of releasing old films under new names was started by Delhi-UP distributors, but is now common in other circuits too. The MPA, taking note of this all too common practice, has resolved to not permit it henceforth.