CBFC announces five new rules for film certification, incomplete films won't be accepted

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has introduced a fresh set of guidelines for filmmakers seeking certification for their projects. The move comes nearly two months after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reconstituted the board with 18 new members.

In its latest advisory, the CBFC has laid down five key requirements for applicants, making it clear that films submitted in an incomplete state will not be considered for examination and that publicly announced release dates will not entitle producers to faster certification.The advisory applies to all applicants seeking certification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Cinematograph Rules, 2024. One of the key instructions is that films must be submitted in their final form, with all elements, including graphics, background score, sound mix and accessibility features meant for theatrical release, fully completed.The CBFC has also clarified that submitting a film title for certification does not guarantee its approval. Filmmakers have been advised to keep the possibility of a title change in mind, even if the name has already been announced publicly.Several films have undergone title changes over the past year. These include 'Janaki vs State of Kerala', 'Maatrubhumi' and Manoj Bajpayee's 'Ghoshkar Pandit', which was later renamed 'Gajab Raat'.

The board has further warned that applications accompanied by unfinished film prints could be considered non-compliant. This may lead to delays in the process, or applications being returned or rejected.Addressing the issue of release schedules, the CBFC has stated that producers cannot expect their films to receive priority certification simply because a theatrical release date has already been announced. The advisory stated, “Certification shall follow the due process, procedure and timelines prescribed under the extant Act and Rules, irrespective of any release date fixed or publicised by the producer/Applicant,”The clarification comes at a time when several films have encountered certification-related hurdles and release delays. Thalapathy Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' and Salman Khan's 'Maatrubhumi' are among the recent examples.

While the makers of 'Maatrubhumi' have maintained that the film has not yet been submitted to the CBFC, 'Jana Nayagan' had to wait nearly six months beyond its initially scheduled release date for certification clearance.The CBFC has urged producers and directors to factor in the certification timeline while planning their theatrical releases and submit their applications well in advance. It has also called for cooperation from applicants and strict adherence to the prescribed requirements, stating that this would help the board carry out its statutory responsibilities and ensure a smoother, more efficient certification process.The latest advisory follows the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's decision to reconstitute the CBFC nearly two months ago, appointing 18 members for a three-year term. The newly constituted board includes actors Pankaj Tripathi, Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rupali Ganguly, Pallavi Joshi and Manoj Joshi, along with filmmaker Priyadarshan, musician Ricky Kej, Vinod Anupam and Abhishek Jain, among others.