| CBFC | |
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| Film Certification Body overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | India |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Film Certification Body executive |
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| Parent Film Certification Body | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |
| Key document |
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| Website | cbfcindia |
TheCentral Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutoryfilm-certification body in theMinistry of Information and Broadcasting of theGovernment of India. It is tasked with "regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952."[1] The Cinematograph Act 1952 outlines a strict certification process for commercial films shown in public venues. Films screened in cinemas and on television may only be publicly exhibited in India after certification by the board and edited.[2]
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The board currently issues four certificates. Originally, there were two: U (unrestricted public exhibition withfamily-friendly movies) and A (restricted to adult audiences but any kind ofnudity not allowed). Two more were added in June 1983 that are U/A (unrestricted public exhibition, with parental guidance for children under 12) and S (restricted to specialised audiences, such asdoctors orscientists).[3] The board may refuse to certify a film.[4] Additionally, V/U, V/UA, V/A are used for video films with U, U/A and A carrying the same meaning as above.[5] Variations of the U/A certificate were introduced in November 2024: U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+.[6]
Films with the U certification are fit for unrestricted public exhibition and arefamily-friendly. These films can contain universal themes likeeducation, family,drama, romance, sci-fi, action etc. These films can also contain some mild violence, but it cannot be prolonged. It may also contain very mild sexual scenes (without any traces of nudity or sexual detail).
Films with the U/A certification can contain moderate adult themes that are not strong in nature and are not considered appropriate to be watched by a child without parental guidance. These films may contain moderate to strong violence, moderate sexual scenes (traces of nudity and moderate sexual detail can be found), frightening scenes, blood flow, or muted abusive language. Sometimes such films are re-certified with V/U for video viewing. The age threshold was previously set at 12 years of age, but in 2024 this was further refined to 7, 13 and 16 years of age.[7]
Films with the A certification are available for public exhibition for ADULTS ONLY. These films can contain strong violence, explicit and strong sexual scenes, abusive language, but words which insult or degradewomen or anysocial group.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] are not allowed. Controversial, adult or suggestive themes are considered unsuitable for young viewers. Such films are often re-certified with V/U and V/UA forTV, which does not happen in the case of U and U/A certified movies.[15]
Films with S certification cannot be viewed by the public. Only people associated with it (doctors,scientists, etc.) are permitted to view these films.[15]
The Indian Cinematograph Act came into effect in 1920[16], seven years after the production of India's first film:Dadasaheb Phalke'sRaja Harishchandra. Censorship boards were originally independent bodies under the police chiefs of the cities of Madras (nowChennai), Bombay (nowMumbai), Calcutta (nowKolkata),Lahore (now inPakistan), and Rangoon (nowYangon inMyanmar)it was amended again on 1 August 2023 with the introduction of Cinematography Amendment Bill. The bill awaits presidential assent.
After the 1947independence of India, autonomous regional censors were absorbed into theBombay Board of Film Censors. The Cinematograph Act of 1952 reorganised the Bombay board into theCentral Board of Film Censors.[17] With the 1983 revision ofcinematography rules, the body was renamed the Central Board of Film Certification.[18]
In 2021 the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) was scrapped by the Indian government.[19][20]
The board's guiding principles are to ensure healthy public entertainment and education and, using modern technology, to make the certification process and board activities transparent to filmmakers, the media and the public also every video have to undergo CBFC certification for telecasting or distributing over any platform in India and suggestible same standards for anywhere in the world.[21]
In addition to the certifications above, there is also the possibility of the board refusing to certify the film at all.
The board's guidelines are:
Since 2004, censorship has been rigorously enforced. An incident was reported in which exhibitor staff – a clerk who sold the ticket, the usher, a theatre manager and the partners of the theatre complex – were arrested for non-compliance with certification rules for allowing minors to watch the Tamil language film7/G Rainbow Colony which received A rating after certification.[23]
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