And now Naqvi proposes to call a meeting of film industry representatives to discuss a review of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. He believes film-makers should exercise restraint in the portrayal of politicians as venal characters. ``It's the same with the police force. Movies have contributed significantly to the public belief that all police officers are corrupt.''

Naqvi says it is dangerous for democracy. He says he is going to take care that the creativity offilmmakers is not curbed. ``I do want that cinema should reflect modern and contemporary trends,'' he says. The Ministry is also of the firm belief that script approval by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will not hamper the freedom of filmmmakers. ``If they don't want to submit scripts, they can at least discuss the main theme and the major scenes with the CBFC,'' says Naqvi. ``What's the harm with that?''

Though the guidelines to the CBFC say that the modus operandi of criminals should not be depicted, the security of the state should not be jeopardised, public order should not be endangered and even visuals or words defaming an individual or a body of individuals should not be used, the Minister noted that the politician and policeman are not specifically mentioned.

The Minister has also increased the filmmaker's share to the Cine Workers' Welfare Fund from Rs 13 lakh a year to Rs 40 lakh a year. He did this by giving his go-ahead to a long-pending amendment to the Cine Workers' WelfareFund Act, which redefines a cine worker as one who earns Rs 3,500 a month as opposed to the Rs 1,600 it was earlier. This has raised the number of workers who will benefit from 33,000 to 63,000. The contribution comes from the cess that is levied on every film that is cleared by the CBFC and varies according to the language and reach.