Ajay Kumar at 07:05, 18 August 2023

2023-08-18T07:05:32Z

New page

{{Short description|Film certification body of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{About|the Indian film classification board|the Pakistani counterpart|Central Board of Film Censors|other uses|CBFC (disambiguation){{!}}CBFC}}
{{Infobox organization
| image = Logo of CBFC.jpg
| formation = {{start date and age|1951|01|15|df=y}}
| purpose = [[Motion picture content rating system|Film certification]]
| headquarters = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]
| leader_name = [[Prasoon Joshi]]
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 = Anurag Srivastava
| name = Central Board of Film Certification
| region_served = [[India]]
| parent_organisation = [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]]
| website = [http://cbfcindia.gov.in/ cbfcindia.gov.in]
| CEO =
| image_size = 300px
}}

The '''Central Board of Film Certification''' ('''CBFC''') is a statutory [[Motion picture content rating system|film-certification]] body in the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] of the [[Government of India]]. It is tasked with "regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/|title=Welcome to CBFC|website=cbfcindia.gov.in|access-date=17 February 2020}}</ref> 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.
{{TOC limit|2}}

== Certificates and guidelines ==
[[File:Film certificate types in India.png|thumb|alt=Four yellow boxes with black letters: U, UA, A and S|Film-certificate categories]]
The board currently issues four certificates. Originally, there were two: U (unrestricted public exhibition with [[family-friendly]] movies) and A (restricted to adult audiences but any kind of [[nudity]] not allowed). Two more were added in June U/A (unrestricted public exhibition, with parental guidance for children under 12) and S (restricted to specialised audiences, such as [[Doctor (title)|doctors]] or [[scientists]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/ua-s-x-r-demystified-how-films-are-rated-376237.html |title=UA, S, X, R demystified: How films are rated |last=Jhinuk Sen |date=15 June 2011 |website=[[News18]] |publisher=[[Network18 Group]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616081848/https://www.news18.com/news/india/ua-s-x-r-demystified-how-films-are-rated-376237.html |archive-date=16 June 2019}}</ref> The board may refuse to certify a film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Censor board denied certification to 77 films in 2015–16|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/CThHt0ZPEGJcG4iA5Ym8AO/Censor-board-denied-certification-to-77-films-in-201516.html|last1=Jha|first1=Lata|last2=Ahluwalia|first2=Harveen|date=17 March 2017|website=Livemint|access-date=14 May 2020}}</ref> Additionally, V/U, V/UA, V/A are used for video releases with U, U/A and A carrying the same meaning as above.<ref>{{cite web |title=Certification |url=https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/certification.html |website=cbfcindia.gov.in |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>

=== U certificate ===
Films with the U certification are fit for unrestricted public exhibition and are [[family-friendly]]. These films can contain universal themes like [[education]], 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).

=== U/A certificate ===
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 [[Motion Picture Association film rating system|below 12 years]] of age with 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.

=== A certificate ===
Films with the A certification are available for public exhibition, but with restriction to [[18 rating|adults (aged 18+)]]. These films can contain violence, explicit and strong sexual scenes, abusive language, but words which insult or degrade [[women]] or any [[social group]] and [[nudity]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/cbfc-it-again-malayalam-film-asked-cut-out-nudity-and-mute-kazhuveriyude-mone-45164?amp|title=CBFC at it again: Malayalam film asked to cut out nudity and mute Kazhuveriyude Mone|website=thenewsminute|date=20 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/1jhytL84dGCvm8G1vAtPFL/Nudity-the-final-frontier-for-films-in-India.html|title=Nudity, the final frontier for films in India|website=livemint|date=28 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/05/fifty-shades-of-grey-banned-in-india-despite-removal-of-nudity|title=Fifty Shades of Grey banned in India despite removal of nudity|website=theguadian.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/censor-board-bans-unfreedom-says-film-will-ignite-unnatural-passions-20933?amp|title= censor board bans Unfreedom says film will ignite unnatural passions|website=The News Minute|date= 31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-cbfc-bans-computer-generated-nudity-2549889/amp|title=CBFC bans computer-generated nudity|website= Dna India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/cbfc-reportedly-bans-film-titled-x-zone-due-to-graphic-love-making-scenes-nudity-4027513.html|title= CBFC reported bans film title x zone due to graphic love making scenes, nudity|website=Firstspot|date= 10 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.india.com/viral/sanskari-cbfc-bans-nudity-on-robots-blurs-alcohol-bottles-from-blade-runner-2049-but-allows-swear-words-2512585/amp/|title=Sanskari CBFC Bans Nudity on Robots & Blurs Alcohol Bottles From Blade Runner 2049 But Allows Swear Words|website=India.com|date=3 October 2017 }}</ref> are not allowed. Some [[controversial]] and adult themes are considered unsuitable for young viewers. Such films are often re-certified with V/U and V/UA for [[Television|TV]] and video viewing, which does not happen in case of U and U/A certified movies.<ref name="Certification"/>

=== S certificate ===
Films with S certification cannot be viewed by the public. Only people associated with it ([[Doctor (title)|doctors]], [[scientist]]s, etc.), are permitted to view these films.<ref name=Certification>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/about-us.html |title=About Us |website=Indian Board of Film Certification |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213125751/https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/about-us.html |archive-date=13 December 2018 |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
The Indian Cinematograph Act came into effect in 1920, seven years after the production of India's first film: [[Dadasaheb Phalke]]'s ''[[Raja Harishchandra]]''. Censorship boards were originally independent bodies under the police chiefs of the cities of Madras (now [[Chennai]]), Bombay (now [[Mumbai]]), Calcutta (now [[Kolkata]]), [[Lahore]] (now in [[Pakistan]]), and Rangoon (now [[Yangon]] in [[Myanmar]])
it was amended again on 1st august 2023 with the introduction of cinematography amendment bill. the bill awaits presidential assent

After the 1947 [[independence of India]], autonomous regional censors were absorbed into the '''Bombay Board of Film Censors'''. The Cinematograph Act of 1952 reorganised the Bombay board into the '''Central Board of Film Censors'''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Rules {{!}} Ministry of Information and Broadcasting {{!}} Government of India|url=https://www.mib.gov.in/acts/cinematograph-act-1952-and-rules|access-date=19 January 2021|website=www.mib.gov.in}}</ref> With the 1983 revision of [[cinematography]] rules, the body was renamed the Central Board of Film Certification.<ref name="CBFC">{{cite web |url=http://cbfcindia.gov.in/html/uniquepage.aspx?unique_page_id=6 |title=Background |work=CBFC Website |publisher=Central Board of Film Certification |access-date=9 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826234425/http://cbfcindia.gov.in/html/uniquepage.aspx?unique_page_id=6 |archive-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2021 the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) was scrapped by the Indian government.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ramachandran|first=Naman|date=7 April 2021|title=Indian Government Quietly Scraps Censorship Appeals Body|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/india-scraps-censorship-appeals-body-1234945516/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=With Abolition of Film Certificate Tribunal, Bad Days for Filmmakers Will Become Worse|url=https://thewire.in/film/abolition-film-certificate-apellate-tribunal-filmmakers-censorship|access-date=8 April 2021|website=The Wire}}</ref>

== Principles ==
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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vision & Mission |url=https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/vision-and-mission.html |website=Central Board of Film Certification |access-date=14 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808182058/https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/vision-and-mission.html |archive-date=8 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Refusal to certify ==
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:
* Anti-social activities (such as violence) may not be glorified
* Criminal acts may not be depicted
* The following is prohibited:
**a) Involvement of children in violent acts or abuse
**b) Abuse or ridicule of the physically or mentally handicapped
**c) Unnecessary depictions of cruelty to animals
* Gratuitous violence, cruelty, or horror
* No scenes encouraging alcohol consumption, drug addiction or smoking
* No vulgarity, obscenity, depravity, double entendres or scenes degrading women, including sexual violence (as much as possible)
* No denigration by race, religion or other social group
* No promotion of sectarian, obscurantist, anti-scientific and anti-national attitudes
* Relations with foreign countries should not be affected.
* No national symbols or emblems, except in accordance with the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (12 of 1950)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/guidelines.html |title=Guidelines |website=Indian Board of Film Certification |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809045338/https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/main/guidelines.html |archive-date=9 August 2019 |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

== Enforcement ==
Since 2004, censorship has been rigorously enforced. An incident was reported in which exhibitor staff – a clerk who sold the ticket, the usher who allowed minors to sit, a theatre manager and the partners of the theatre complex – were arrested for non-compliance with certification rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/minors-caught-watching-7-grainbow-colony-news-tamil-kkfvDLihebfsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903115545/http://www.sify.com/movies/minors-caught-watching-7-grainbow-colony-news-tamil-kkfvDLihebfsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 September 2017|title=Minors caught watching "7-GRainbow Colony"|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

== Composition and leadership ==
The board consists of a chairperson and 23 members, all of whom are appointed by the central government. [[Prasoon Joshi]] chairs the board; Joshi became its 28th chairperson on 11 August 2017, after [[Pahlaj Nihalani]] was fired.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/pahlaj-nihalani-sacked-as-cbfc-chief-to-be-succeeded-by-prasoon-joshi/articleshow/60022954.cms|title=Pahlaj Nihalani sacked as CBFC chief, to be succeeded by Prasoon Joshi|date=11 August 2017|work=The Times of India|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref> Nihalani had succeeded [[Leela Samson]] after Samson quit<ref name="REUTERS 16 Jan 2015">{{cite news |title=Censor board chief Leela Samson quits over Dera Sacha Sauda leader's Bollywood dreams|author=Ashreena, Tanya|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/censor-board-leela-samson-msg-idINKBN0KP0SR20150116 |date=16 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2015}}</ref> in protest of an appellate tribunal's overturning of a board decision to refuse certification for ''[[MSG: The Messenger]]''. Samson had succeeded [[Sharmila Tagore]].<ref name="TOI 29 March 2011">{{cite news |title=Danseuse Leela Samson is new Censor Board chief |author=Dhwan, Himanshi|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-29/india/29357349_1_chairperson-bharatanatyam-i-b-ministry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616074139/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-29/india/29357349_1_chairperson-bharatanatyam-i-b-ministry |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2012 |date=29 March 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=9 January 2012}}</ref>

The board, headquartered in Mumbai, has nine regional offices:
{{Div col}}
* [[Trivandrum]]
* [[Chennai]]
* [[Hyderabad]]
* [[Bangalore]]
* [[Mumbai]]
* [[Cuttack]]
* [[Guwahati]]
* [[Kolkata]]
* [[New Delhi]]
{{Div col end}}

{| class=wikitable
|+ Chairs
! No. !! Name !! From !!To
|-
|1||C S Aggarwal||15 January 1951||14 June 1954
|-
|2||B D Mirchandani||15 June 1954||9 June 1955
|-
|3||M D Bhatt||10 June 1955||21 November 1959
|-
|4||D L Kothari||22 November 1959||24 March 1960
|-
|5||B D Mirchandani||25 March 1960||1 November 1960
|-
|6||D L Kothari||2 November 1960||22 April 1965
|-
|7||B P Bhatt||23 April 1965||22 April 1968
|-
|8||R P Nayak||31 April 1968||15 November 1969
|-
|9||M V Desai||12 December 1969||19 October 1970
|-
|10||Brig. R. Sreenivasan||20 October 1970||15 November 1971
|-
|11||Virendra Vyas||11 February 1972||30 June 1976
|-
|12||K L Khandpur||1 July 1976||31 January 1981
|-
|13||[[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]]||1 February 1981||10 August 1982
|-
|14||Aparna Mohile||11 August 1982||14 March 1983
|-
|15||Sharad Upasani||15 March 1983||9 May 1983
|-
|16||Surresh Mathur||10 May 1983||7 July 1983
|-
|17||Vikram Singh||8 July 1983||19 February 1989
|-
|18||Moreshwar Vanmali||20 February 1989||25 April 1990
|-
|19||B P Singhal||25 April 1990||1 April 1991
|-
|20||[[Shakti Samanta]]||1 April 1991||25 June 1998
|-
|21||[[Asha Parekh]]||25 June 1998||25 September 2001
|-
|22||[[Vijay Anand (Hindi film maker)|Vijay Anand]]<ref name="TOI 22 July 2002">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002July22/news-interviews/27308006_1_vijay-anand-cbfc-chairman-films|title=Vijay Anand Quits Censor Board|date=22 July 2002|author=IndiaTimes Movies staff|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=9 January 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>||26 September 2001||19 July 2002
|-
|23||[[Arvind Trivedi]]||20 July 2002||16 October 2003
|-
|24||[[Anupam Kher]]<ref name="Rediff 8 October 2003">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/oct/08kher.htm|title=Anupam Kher is new chief of censors|date=8 October 2003|work=Rediff Movies|publisher=rediff. com|author=rediff. com Entertainment Bureau Staff reporter|access-date=9 January 2012}}</ref>||16 October 2003||13 October 2004
|-
|25||[[Sharmila Tagore]]<ref name="IndiaGlitz 16 October 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/10963.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023221654/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/10963.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2012|title=Sharmila Tagore replaces Kher|date=16 October 2004|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|work=IndiaGlitz|access-date=9 January 2012}}</ref>||13 October 2004||31 March 2011
|-
|26||[[Leela Samson]]||1 April 2011||16 January 2015
|-
|27||[[Pahlaj Nihalani]]||19 January 2015||11 August 2017
|-
|28||[[Prasoon Joshi]] ||12 August 2017||Present
|}

== Controversies ==
The board has been associated with a number of scandals. Film producers reportedly bribe the CBFC to obtain a UA certificate, which entitles them to a 30-percent reduction in entertainment tax.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-film-producers-grease-palms-to-get-U-certificates/articleshow/40437673.cms|title=Tamil Nadu film producers grease palms to get 'UA' certificates|date=20 August 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

In 2002, ''[[War and Peace (2002 film)|War and Peace]]'' (a [[documentary film]] by [[Anand Patwardhan]] which depicted [[nuclear weapons testing]] and the [[September 11 attacks]]) was edited 21 times before the film was approved for release. According to Patwardhan, "The cuts that [the Board] asked for are so ridiculous that they won't hold up in court. But if these cuts do make it, it will be the end of freedom of expression in the Indian media."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2202379.stm|title=India cuts 'anti-war' film|website=BBC News|date=19 August 2002|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> A court ruled that the cut requirement was unconstitutional, and the film was shown uncensored.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://brightlightsfilm.com/censorship-indian-cinema-case-anand-patwardhans-war-peace/|title=Censorship and Indian Cinema: The Case of Anand Patwardhan's War and Peace – Bright Lights Film Journal|date=1 November 2002|work=Bright Lights Film Journal|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

That year, Indian filmmaker and CBFC chair [[Vijay Anand (filmmaker)|Vijay Anand]] proposed legalising the exhibition of [[X-rated]] films in selected cinemas. Anand said, "Porn is shown everywhere in India clandestinely ... and the best way to fight this onslaught of blue movies is to show them openly in theatres with legally authorised licences".<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2069900.stm |title=India's film censor wants to legalise porn |website= BBC News |date=27 June 2002 |access-date= 21 July 2017}}</ref> Anand resigned less than a year after becoming chairperson in the wake of his proposal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2144603.stm|title=India's chief film censor quits|website=BBC News|date=22 July 2002|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref>

The board refused to certify ''[[The Pink Mirror|Gulabi Aaina]]'' (a film about Indian [[transsexual]]s produced and directed by [[Sridhar Rangayan]]) in 2003; Rangayan unsuccessfully appealed the decision twice. Although the film is [[List of banned films|banned]] in India, it has been screened in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3689509.stm|title=UK premiere for Indian drag film|website=BBC News|date=6 May 2004|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yidff.jp/docbox/22/box22-2-e.html|title=YIDFF: Publications: DocBox: #22|website=yidff.jp|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref>

''Final Solution'', a 2004 documentary examining religious riots between [[Hindus]] and [[Muslims]] in [[Gujarat]] which killed over 1,000 people, was also banned. According to the board, the film was "highly provocative and may trigger off unrest and communal violence".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3542340.stm|title=India bans religious riot movie|website=BBC News|date=6 August 2004|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.countercurrents.org/index.htm|title=Towards A Counter Movement!|date=28 May 2006|access-date=21 July 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528225158/http://www.countercurrents.org/index.htm|archive-date=28 May 2006}}</ref> After a sustained campaign, the ban was lifted in October of that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rakeshfilm.com/finalsolution.htm|title=RAKESH SHARMA – Final Solution|website=rakeshfilm.com|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref>

The CBFC demanded five cuts from the 2011 American film, ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]'', because of [[Nudity in film|nudity]] and rape scenes. The producers and the director, [[David Fincher]], eventually decided not to release the film in India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/30/girl-dragon-tattoo-cancelled-india|title=The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo cancelled in India|last=Child|first=Ben|date=30 January 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

CEO Rakesh Kumar was arrested in August 2014 for accepting bribes to expedite the issuance of certificates.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Censor-board-CEO-held-for-accepting-bribes-to-clear-films-quickly/articleshow/40384783.cms|title=Censor board CEO held for accepting bribes to clear films quickly|date=19 August 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The board demanded four cuts (three visual and one audio) from the 2015 [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film]], ''[[The Painted House|Chaayam Poosiya Veedu]]'') (directed by brothers Santosh Babusenan and Satish Babusenan), because of nude scenes. The directors refused to make the changes, and the film was not certified.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/directors-out-against-cbfc-directives/article7598642.ece|title=Directors out against CBFC directives|work=The Hindu|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31811&articlexml=Film-denied-certificate-for-depicting-nudity-25082015004061|title=The Times Group|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=21 July 2017}}{{dead link|date=May 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

CBFC chair [[Leela Samson]] resigned in protest of political interference in the board's work in 2015 after its decision to refuse certification of the film, ''[[MSG: The Messenger]]'', was overturned by an appellate tribunal. Samson was replaced by [[Pahlaj Nihalani]], whose [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] affiliation triggered a wave of additional board resignations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/21/india-censorship-board-crisis-leela-samson-msg-messenger-of-god-political-interference|title=India's censorship board in disarray amid claims of political interference|date=21 January 2015|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The board was criticised for ordering the screen time of two kissing scenes in the James Bond film [[Spectre (2015 film)|''Spectre'' (2015)]] to be cut by half for release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/19/spectre-kissing-censored-in-india|title=Bond and gagged: Spectre's kissing scenes censored by Indian film certification board|first=Ben|last=Child|date=19 November 2015|website=The Guardian}}</ref>

''[[Udta Punjab]]'' (2016), co-produced by [[Anurag Kashyap]] and [[Ekta Kapoor]], inspired a list of 94 cuts and 13 pointers (including an order to remove Punjabi city names). The film was approved for release with one cut and disclaimers by the [[Bombay High Court]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/udta-punjab-not-made-to-malign-state-bombay-high-court-2844372/|title=Udta Punjab not made to malign state: Bombay HC|date=10 June 2016|work=The Indian Express|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>  A copy of the film was [[Internet leak|leaked online]], with evidence indicating possible CBFC involvement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-udta-punjab-leak-cbfc-claims-innocence-as-all-fingers-point-at-them-2224252|title='Udta Punjab' leak: CBFC claims innocence as all fingers point at them {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=16 June 2016|work=dna|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Kashyap posted on Facebook that although he did not object to free downloads, he hoped that viewers would pay for the film.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/udta-punjab-leaked-anurag-kashyap-asks-downloaders-to-wait-till-saturday-2856467/|title=Udta Punjab leaked: Kashyap asks downloads to wait till Saturday|date=16 June 2016|work=The Indian Express|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> In August 2017, days after his removal as CBFC chair, Nihalani said in an interview that he had received instructions from the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] to block the release of this film and at least one other.<ref name="ndtvinterview">{{cite news|title='Sacked As I Didn't Clear Indu Sarkar Without Cuts': Pahlaj Nihalani |url=http://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/clearing-indu-sarkar-without-cuts-main-reason-behind-my-sacking-says-pahlaj-nihalani-1739488 |access-date=20 August 2017 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |date=19 August 2017}}</ref>

''[[Lipstick Under My Burkha]]'' (2017), directed by [[Alankrita Shrivastava]] and produced by [[Prakash Jha]], was originally denied certification.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/cbfc-refuses-to-certify-prakash-jhas-film-lipstick-under-my-burkha/articleshow/57302257.cms|title=CBFC refuses to certify Prakash Jha's film Lipstick Under My Burkha – Mumbai Mirror -|work=Mumbai Mirror|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> The film, which had been screened at international film festivals, was eligible for the [[Golden Globe Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wmfindia.com/blogs/golden-globe-lipstick-under-my-burkha-alankrita/|title=The Cultural Cow That Refuses To Certify A Golden Globe Eligible Film|work=WMF|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624033655/http://www.wmfindia.com/blogs/golden-globe-lipstick-under-my-burkha-alankrita/|archive-date=24 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The filmmakers appealed to the board's Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), which authorised its release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zoomtv.com/bollywood-news/latest/article/ekta-kapoor-lipstick-under-my-burkha-cbfc-poster-middle-finger-controversy/34655|title="The middle finger is NOT for the CBFC but for the patriarchal society" : Ekta Kapoor|website=zoomtv.com|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> The FCAT requested some cuts (primarily to sex scenes), and the film was released with an A certificate. Shrivastava said, "Of course I would have loved no cuts, but the FCAT has been very fair and clear. I feel that we will be able to release the film without hampering the narrative or diluting its essence."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/26/indian-film-board-clears-lipstick-under-my-burkha-release|title=Indian film board clears Lipstick Under My Burkha for release|last=correspondent|first=Michael Safi South Asia|date=26 April 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 July 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://cbfcindia.gov.in/}}

{{MIBI}}
{{Pornography legality|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1952 establishments in Bombay State]]
[[Category:Censorship in India]]
[[Category:Certification marks]]
[[Category:Film censorship in India|*]]
[[Category:Film controversies in India|*]]
[[Category:Film organisations in India]]
[[Category:Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]]
[[Category:Motion picture rating systems]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1952]]
[[Category:Entertainment rating organizations]]

Central Board of Film Certification - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 07:05, 18 August 2023