Thanks, Maneka, Bollywood has stopped animal cruelty in films

From Hathi Mere Sathi in 1971, Teri Meherbaniyan in 1985, Parivar in 1987 to latest Chillar Party in 2011, animals have been used extensively in Bollywood. But now-a-days computer graphics imagery is being used to create animal part of the performance as the Supreme Court of India has ruled that films using animals must get the nod of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) before their release.

 
Later, the apex court upheld a Bombay High Court judgment making the AWBI the “prescribed authority” to issue clearance certificates for films featuring animals. The rule applies to producers of advertisements and TV shows, too. The AWBI has to ensure that the animals are not ill-treated. The filmmaker is liable for action if animal rights are violated.
 

All thanks to Animal-rights activist and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, PETA and AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) for their efforts to give voice to the poor animals that have been used in movies. The animals do not want to perform painful, confusing and demeaning tricks, stunts, in, the movies because it have to go through make re-takes to get a perfect shot. However, animals in circuses have no choice. 

 
Not only are dogs, cats, snakes, elephants, horses, birds, dogs, camels, monkeys and other animals beat by their trainers, but they also suffer from loneliness, weariness and frustration from being locked in cages or chained for days as they travel from city to city. Animal trainers use abusive tools, including whips and electric prods, to force them to act out their role or to perform dance movies.

 
According to reports, now, IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association) said while it is mandatory for producers to seek permission from AWBI before a film featuring animals are released, the go-ahead is in addition to clearance from the censor board.

 
If you notice nowadays, the filmmakers use Computer-generated imagery (CGI) technology to create animals and make them do anything. Many movies like Life of Pi, The Jungle Book, Avatar and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, etc. are created with the help of CGI.

 
In 2014, Maneka Gandhi extended support to a Bollywood movie Entertainment, starring Akshay Kumar, for using the dog in the film in a friendly way. The movie screening was attended my members of her organisation People for Animals (PFA). 

 
One of the members of PFA had said "The film has been endorsed by us. A dog has been used in the film, but it has been used in a respectful manner. I am happy to have this event as our annual fund-raiser," 

 
During the screening, Maneka said, "After the law of not portraying animals in cruel manner has been passed, filmmakers are using them in a good way. They don't want to take a fight with Censor Board first and then with me. I am happy to see that now they are respecting animals," 
 

• Jallikattu
• Maneka Gandhi