Censoring films unwanted: Adoor 

Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has criticised censorship in cinema, saying it is "totally unwanted" and feels television programmes are the ones which should be censored.

Many television programmes, especially soap operas, are even showcasing crime on prime time after giving prior announcement, the 75-year-old Dadasaheb Phalke awardee said.

He also questioned the display of anti-smoking and liquor messages on the movie screen and said if smoking and drinking were injurious to health, it should be banned. "There is no need for cinema to bear its burden," he said.

"I personally feel that there is no need for censorship. It is totally unwanted. I do not think vulgarity galore in films, if there is no censorship," the acclaimed Malayalam director said.

Pointing out the need of imposing censorship for TV programmes, the director said many channels are crossing their limits to get maximum viewership and rating.

"Television is more influential than cinema now-a-days. But, the present situation is that anything can be shown on TV and there is no censorship," he said, adding such programmes were giving a wrong lesson to viewers.

The multiple National winner also said digital technology had not cut down the production cost of films but helped to avoid complexities in its making.