Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia has not banned Bollywood as a whole, but there have been instances where Bollywood films have been banned in Australia. In 2009, an Indian filmmaker planned to make a movie highlighting the attacks on Indian students in Australia, which caused diplomatic tension between the two nations. The film intended to address racial bias and the Australian government denied the racial motivation behind the attacks. Additionally, there have been instances of Bollywood celebrities facing media bans, such as the case of Shraddha Kapoor, who was banned by photographers due to her unwillingness to pose for them. While Australia has not banned Bollywood entirely, it does have criteria for banning films, including content that is deemed offensive to reasonable adults, promotes criminal or violent activities, or advocates for terrorist acts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for the ban | Bollywood films can be banned in Australia if they are deemed offensive against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by "reasonable adults" |
| Who can ban | Australian Classification Board |
| Reasons for banning | Depiction of matters of sex, drug misuse, addiction, crime, cruelty, violence, or revolting or abhorrent phenomena |
| Description or depiction of a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 | |
| Promotion, incitement, or instruction in matters of crime or violence | |
| Advocating the commission of a terrorist act | |
| Example of Bollywood-related activism in Australia | #JusticeforSSR campaign in Melbourne |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Bollywood film to focus on attacks on Indian students in Australia
In 2009, Indian filmmaker Mohit Suri announced plans to make a movie highlighting the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia, which had caused diplomatic tension between the two nations. The film, inspired by the experience of a friend based in Australia who faced discrimination, revolves around an Indian student who believes he was a victim of racial bias.
At the time, there were numerous reports of assaults on Indian students in Australia, with Indian media describing the attacks in Sydney and Melbourne as racially motivated. These incidents sparked angry protests in India, with the National Arya Student Association (NASA) actively protesting against the attacks. The Australian government refuted the racial motivation behind the attacks and launched an inquiry into the violent crimes.
The proposed film was set to be shot in Australia, despite calls from a leading Bollywood union to boycott the country until the Australian government took action against the perpetrators. Suri, however, defended his decision to film in Australia, stating that the story was based in the country, and a boycott would not achieve anything.
With around 93,000 Indian students out of 430,000 foreign students in Australia, the country has been a popular destination for Indian filmmakers, with about a dozen films shot there annually. Suri's film aimed to address the issues faced by Indian students who go abroad in search of a better life, only to encounter similar problems. The film's release date and further production details are unknown.
Preventing Caterpillar Consumption of Tomatoes in Australia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Australia's response to the attacks
In response to the attacks, the Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu released a Bollywood Policy, drafted by Ministerial Adviser Mr. Nitin Gupta. The policy included the original idea by Gupta of creating the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. However, Bollywood's largest labour union declared that its members would refuse to work in Australia until the attacks stopped.
In 2010, there were further attacks, including the death of an Indian student, which caused a diplomatic rift between India and Australia. An Indian journalist working for ABC TV was also threatened and attacked while investigating migration and education scams in Australia that targeted Indian students. The Indian media accused Australian authorities of being denialist and having a "smug and superior attitude".
More recently, in 2023, there have been attacks on Hindu temples in Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded by assuring the Indian community in Australia that their safety and well-being are a priority. He stated that Australia respects people's faith and does not tolerate attacks on religious buildings. Albanese pledged to take action through the police and security agencies to ensure those responsible face justice.
Understanding Your Payslip: Details and Insights
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Reasons for films to be banned in Australia
Films can be banned in Australia if they are deemed to be offensive against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by "reasonable adults". The Australian Classification Board is responsible for banning films that depict or express matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence, or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in a manner that offends adult standards. Films that describe or depict individuals who are or appear to be under 18 years old in a sexual context are also banned. Additionally, films that promote, incite, or instruct in matters of crime or violence are prohibited. The sale, distribution, public exhibition, and importation of such films are restricted.
Historically, conservative businessmen like Walter Cresswell O'Reilly in the 1920s and Richard Prowse in the 1960s, held positions of power and broadly defined powers that allowed them to ban numerous movies in Australia. For example, O'Reilly banned the anti-war film 'All Quiet on the Western Front' as he felt it undermined public confidence in the armed forces, while Prowse banned Michelangelo Antonioni's classic metaphysical mystery 'Blow-Up'.
The Film Classification Board, established in 1970, introduced a three-person panel to review submitted films. Films were then classified into one of four categories, with the potential for a ban if they were deemed unsuitable. This led to the banning of acclaimed films like 'La Dolce Vita', 'Zabriskie Point', and 'The Silence'.
More recently, films such as 'Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend' became the first anime to be banned in Australia, while 'Sex Is...' by Marc Huestis was initially banned on VHS. Other films that faced censorship and trimming for theatrical or VHS releases include 'Kickboxer 2: The Road Back', 'Wrong Bet' by Jean-Claude Van Damme, and 'Marked for Death' by Steven Seagal.
Rhyolite in Australia: Where Is It Located?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ban Bollywood Bullies – Unite Australia for SSR
Australia has not banned Bollywood, however, there have been instances of Bollywood celebrities being banned by the media. For example, Shraddha Kapoor faced a media ban due to her reluctance to pose for the paparazzi, and Salman Khan faced a similar boycott when photographers claimed they were manhandled by his bodyguards.
In 2020, a Melbourne-based Facebook group called 'Ban Bollywood Bullies – Unite Australia for SSR' gained attention for their efforts in seeking justice for the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The group, which was motivated by the belief that Sushant Singh Rajput was sidelined by big names in Bollywood, put up seven billboards across Melbourne calling for an inquiry into the actor's death. The initiative received a mixed response, with some praising the move for highlighting the issue and others questioning the use of funds.
The 'Ban Bollywood Bullies' group is not alone in their efforts, with similar initiatives to put up billboards seen in the US and UK. Additionally, the group received an overwhelming response online, with their membership doubling within 24 hours of the billboards going up.
While Australia has not banned Bollywood, there have been diplomatic tensions between the two countries due to attacks on Indian students in Australia. An Indian filmmaker, Mohit Suri, even planned to make a movie focusing on these attacks, which were described by the Indian media as race-based. However, the Australian government condemned the attacks and denied that racism was a factor.
Join Cotton On Australia: Application Tips and Tricks
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Billboards in Melbourne for Sushant Singh Rajput
Australia has not banned Bollywood, despite diplomatic tensions in the past. In 2009, an Indian filmmaker planned to make a movie highlighting the attacks on Indian students in Australia, which caused some discomfort between the two nations. However, there is no indication of a ban on Bollywood in Australia. In fact, in 2020, billboards seeking justice for a late Bollywood celebrity, Sushant Singh Rajput, were spotted in Melbourne, Australia.
Sushant Singh Rajput was a 34-year-old Bollywood actor who passed away in June 2020. His death sparked demands for an independent inquiry, with many believing the case to be murky. To support these demands, a Melbourne-based Facebook group called "Ban Bollywood Bullies – Unite Australia for SSR" spearheaded a call for justice. They raised funds to put up seven billboards across Melbourne, seeking justice for Sushant Singh Rajput and demanding a CBI inquiry into his demise. The hashtags #JusticeforSSR, #SCOrderCBIforSushant, and #CBIMustForSushant were used to trend the campaign on social media.
The billboards, funded by the Indian diaspora in Australia, featured photos of Rajput and carried hashtags like #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput. They were set up in seven locations across Melbourne, including Southbank, Williams Landing, Wantirna South, Epping, Bentleigh, Derrimut, and Bayswater. The campaign received a mixed response, with some praising the initiative for highlighting the issue and others feeling the money could have been used elsewhere.
The Melbourne billboards were inspired by similar initiatives in the US and UK, and they received attention from RepublicTV in India. The group behind the billboards, "Ban Bollywood Bullies – Unite Australia for SSR", has about 1,000 members, many of whom are Indian-Australians. The campaign was driven by Rajput's sister, Shweta Singh Kirti, who shared images and videos of the billboards on Twitter, expressing her gratitude for the support from SSR fans across Australia.
The death of Sushant Singh Rajput affected many people, as Anupama Arora, a healthcare worker and an active member of the Facebook group, explained. She stated that Rajput came from a simple background, and people could relate to him. The group also mentioned that Bollywood bullies and bias within the industry were a major source of motivation for their call for justice. They even petitioned to add Rajput's wax statue to Madame Tussauds museums.
Understanding the AUD-USD Exchange Rate
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Australia has not banned Bollywood. However, there have been instances of Bollywood celebrities being banned by the media in India.
Yes, films can be banned in Australia by the Australian Classification Board if they are deemed offensive to the standards of morality, decency, and propriety accepted by reasonable adults.
Films might be banned in Australia for various reasons, including depicting drug misuse, crime, cruelty, violence, or abhorrent phenomena that offend the standards of morality, decency, and propriety.
Yes, in 2020, a Melbourne-based Facebook group called "Ban Bollywood Bullies – Unite Australia for SSR" placed seven billboards across the city to raise international attention towards the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Yes, in 2009, an Indian filmmaker planned a movie set in Australia that would focus on a recent spate of attacks on Indian students in the country, causing diplomatic discomfort between the two nations.
