In India, a Salesian priest is appointed to Central Film Censor Board

(09 Feb. 07) : Kolkata-based Salesian priest, Fr C.M. Paul has been appointed as a member to the Advisory Panel to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) by the Government of India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry. CBFC-Kolkata is responsible for the certification of films produced in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bengal, Sikkim and the seven states of north-eastern India. This is for the first time a Catholic priest has been appointed to the CBFC Kolkota. Fr Paul will serve a two-year term along with the Mayor and the Commissioner of Police of Kolkata and other eminent citizens to the prestigious board. The director of CBFC, Abhay Srivastave said, “It has been our endeavour to include prominent personalities from various backgrounds in the Advisory Panel. We are in deed fortunate to have an eminent and media- savvy Catholic priest who has been involved with film production and film festivals on our panel.”

Father Paul was director of the First Mother Teresa International Film Festival held in Kolkata on the occasion of her beatification in 2003. He also served two terms as president of the National Catholic Association for Radio, TV and Cinema (Unda/OCIC & Signis). Besides directing, producing and promoting films, he was also director of Nitika Catechetical and Media Centre Kolkata for nine years. Father Paul’s recent films include Lady of Bandel (2006), Manobtratta Jisu (2006), Mary Immaculate (2005) and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (2003).