Central Board of Film Certification

Central Board of Film Certification
Formation 1952
Type Government Organisation
Purpose Film Certification
Headquarters Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Region served
India
Chairperson
Prasoon Joshi
CEO
Anurag Srivastava, IRS
Parent organisation
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Budget
69 million (US$1.1 million) (2011)
Website cbfcindia.gov.in

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) (often referred to as the Censor Board) is a statutory censorship and classification body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It is tasked with "regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952". Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they are certified by the Board, including films shown on television. CBFC India is considered to be one of the most powerful film censor boards in the world due to its strict ways of functioning.

History

Though the first film in India (Raja Harishchandra) was produced in 1913 by Dadasaheb Phalke, the Indian Cinematograph Act was passed and came into effect only in 1920. Censor Boards (as they were called then) were placed under police chiefs in cities of Madras (now Chennai), Bombay (now Mumbai), Calcutta (now Kolkata), Lahore (now in Pakistan) and Rangoon (now Yangon in Burma). Regional censors were independent. After Independence autonomy of regional censors was abolished and they were brought under the Bombay Board of Film Censors. With implementation of Cinematograph Act, 1952, the board was unified and reconstituted, as the Central Board of Film Censors. Cinematograph (Certification) Rules were revised in 1983 and since then the Central Board of Film Censors became known as the Central Board of Film Certification.[1]

Certificates and censorship

Films are certified under 4 categories. Initially, there were only two categories of certificates – "U" (unrestricted public exhibition) and "A" (restricted to adult audiences). Two more categories were added in June 1983 – "U/A" (unrestricted public exhibition subject to parental guidance for children below the age of twelve) and "S" (restricted to specialized audiences such as doctors or scientists). In addition to these certifications the board may also refuse to certify.

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. Now, these films can also contain some mild violence, but it should not 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 can be watched by a child under parental guidance. These films can contain some strong violence, moderate sex (without any traces of nudity or sexual detail), frightening scenes and muted abusive and filthy language.

Films with the A certification are available for public exhibition, but with restriction to adults. These films can contain heavily strong violence, strong sex (but full frontal and rear nudity is not allowed usually), strong abusive language (but words which insults or degrades women are not allowed), and even some controversial and adult themes considered unsuitable for young viewers. Such films are often recertified for TV and video viewing, which doesn't happen in case of U and U/A certified movies.

Films with S certification should not be viewed by the public. Only people associated with it (Engineers, Doctors, Scientists, etc.), have permission to watch those films.

Additionally, V/U, V/UA, V/A are used for video releases with U, U/A and A carrying the same meaning as above.

In addition to the certifications above there is also the possibility of the board refusing to certify the film at all.

Guidelines for certification :

    1. anti social activities such as violence are not glorified or justified
    2. the modus operandi of criminals, other visuals or words likely to incite the commission of any offence are not depicted;
    3. scenes -
      1. showing involvement of children in violence as victims or perpetrators or as forced witnesses to violence, or showing children as being subjected to any form of child abuse.
      2. showing abuse or ridicule of physically and mentally handicapped persons; and
      3. showing cruelty to, or abuse of animals, are not presented needlessly
    4. pointless or avoidable scenes of violence, cruelty and horror, scenes of violence primarily intended to provide entertainment and such scenes as may have the effect of de-sensitising or de-humanising people are not shown;
    5. scenes which have the effect of justifying or glorifying drinking are not shown;
    6. scenes tending to encourage, justify or glamorise drug addiction are not shown;
    7. scenes tending to encourage, justify or glamorise consumption of tobacco or smoking are not shown;
    8. human sensibilities are not offended by vulgarity, obscenity or depravity;
    9. such dual meaning words as obviously cater to baser instincts are not allowed;
    10. scenes degrading or denigrating women in any manner are not presented;
    11. scenes involving sexual violence against women like attempt to rape, rape or any form of molestation or scenes of a similar nature are avoided, and if any such incidence is germane to the theme, they shall be reduced to the minimum and no details are shown
    12. scenes showing sexual perversions shall be avoided and if such matters are germane to the theme they shall be reduced to the minimum and no details are shown
    13. visuals or words contemptuous of racial, religious or other groups are not presented
    14. visuals or words which promote communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific and anti-national attitude are not presented
    15. the sovereignty and integrity of India is not called in question;
    16. the security of the State is not jeopardized or endangered
    17. friendly relations with foreign States are not strained;
    18. public order is not endangered
    19. visuals or words involving defamation of an individual or a body of individuals, or contempt of court are not presented. EXPLANATION: Scenes that tend to create scorn, disgrace or disregard of rules or undermine the dignity of court will come under the term ''Contempt of Court'' : and
    20. national symbols and emblems are not shown except in accordance with the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (12 of 1950) 
  1. The Board of Film Certification shall also ensure that the film
    1. Is judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impact; and
    2. Is examined in the light of the period depicted in the films and the contemporary standards of the country and the people to which the film relates provided that the film does not deprave the morality of the audience
    3. The Board shall scrutinize the titles of the films carefully and ensure that they are not provocative, vulgar, offensive or violative of any of the above-mentioned guidelines.

Composition and leadership

The Board consist of 25 other non-official members and a Chairperson (all of whom are appointed by Central Government). Pahlaj Nihalani presently presides the Board after Leela Samson who resigned[2] after the CBFC's rejection of a certificate for the film MSG: Messenger of God was overturned by an appellate tribunal. Earlier, Leela Samson had succeeded Sharmila Tagore,[1][3] who was the longest continuous running Chairperson in the history. Nihalani was the 27th Chairperson after the Board's establishment. His appointment was highly controversial given his propensity for censoring films instead of merely certifying them. Prasoon Joshi has been appointed 28th Chairperson of the Board on 11 August 2017.

The Board functions with its headquarters at Mumbai. It has nine Regional offices each at:

The Regional Offices are assisted in the examination of films by Advisory Panels. The members of the panels are nominated by Central Government by drawing people from different walks of life for a period of two years.

Chairpersons of the CBFC

No. Name From To
1C S Aggarwal15 January 195114 June 1954
2B D Mirchandani15 June 19549 June 1955
3M D Bhatt10 June 195521 November 1959
4D L Kothari22 November 195924 March 1960
5B D Mirchandani25 March 19601 November 1960
6D L Kothari2 November 196022 April 1965
7B P Bhatt23 April 196522 April 1968
8R P Nayak31 April 196815 November 1969
9M V Desai12 December 196919 October 1970
10R Srinivasan20 October 197015 November 1971
11Virendra Vyas11 February 197230 June 1976
12K L Khandpur1 July 197631 January 1981
13Hrishikesh Mukherjee1 February 198110 August 1982
14Aparna Mohile11 August 198214 March 1983
15Sharad Upasani15 March 19839 May 1983
16Surresh Mathur10 May 19837 July 1983
17Vikram Singh8 July 198319 February 1989
18Moreshwar Vanmali20 February 198925 April 1990
19B P Singhal25 April 19901 April 1991
20Shakti Samanta1 April 199125 June 1998
21Asha Parekh25 June 199825 September 2001
22Vijay Anand[4]26 September 200119 July 2002
23Arvind Trivedi20 July 200216 October 2003
24Anupam Kher[5]16 October 200313 October 2004
25Sharmila Tagore[6]13 October 200431 March 2011
26Leela Samson1 April 201116 January 2015
27Pahlaj Nihalani19 January 201511 August 2017
28Prasoon Joshi 12 August 2017Present

Controversies

CBFC has been associated with various scandals. Movie producers reportedly bribe the CBFC to get 'U' certificate to avail 30% exemption in entertainment tax despite violent scenes and coarse dialogues.[7]

In 2002, the film War and Peace, depicting scenes of nuclear testing and the September 11, 2001 attacks, created by Anand Patwardhan, was asked to make 21 cuts before it was allowed to have the certificate for release.[8] Patwardhan objected, saying "The cuts that they asked for are so ridiculous that they won't hold up in court" and "But if these cuts do make it, it will be the end of freedom of expression in the Indian media." The court decreed the cuts unconstitutional and the film was shown uncut.[9] The same year, Indian filmmaker and former chief of the country's film censor board, Vijay Anand, kicked up a controversy with a proposal to legalize the exhibition of X-rated films in selected cinemas across the country, saying "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 authorized licences".[10] He resigned within a year after taking charge of the censor board after facing widespread criticism of his moves.[11]

In 2003, CBFC banned the film Gulabi Aaina (The Pink Mirror), a film on Indian transsexuals produced and directed by Sridhar Rangayan. The censor board cited that the film was "vulgar and offensive". The filmmaker appealed twice again unsuccessfully. The film still remains banned in India, but has screened at numerous festivals all over the world and won awards. The critics have applauded it for its "sensitive and touching portrayal of marginalised community".[12][13][14]

In 2004, the documentary Final Solution, which looks at religious rioting between Hindus and Muslims, was banned.[15] The film follows 2002 clashes in the western state of Gujarat, which left more than 1,000 people dead. The censor board justified the ban, saying it was "highly provocative and may trigger off unrest and communal violence".[16] The ban was lifted in October 2004 after a sustained campaign.[17]

In 2006, seven states (NagalandPunjabGoaTamil NaduAndhra Pradesh) have banned the release or exhibition of the Hollywood movie The Da Vinci Code (and also the book), although the CBFC cleared the film for adult viewing throughout India.[18] However, the respective high courts lifted the ban and the movie was shown in the two states.[19]

The CBFC demanded five cuts from the 2011 American film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo because of some scenes containing rape and nudity. The producers and the director David Fincher finally decided not to release the film in India.[20]

In 2013, Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam was banned from the screening for a period of two weeks in Tamil Nadu.[21]

A CEO of CBFC was arrested in August 2014 for accepting bribes for speedy clearance.[22]

In 2015, the CBFC demanded four cuts (three visual and one audio) from the art-house Malayalam feature film Chaayam Poosiya Veedu (The Painted House) directed by brothers Santosh Babusenan and Satish Babusenan because the film contained scenes where the female lead was shown in the nude. The directors refused to make any changes whatsoever to the film and hence the film was denied a certificate.[23][24]

Chairperson of CBFC Leela Samson resigned alleging political interference after the CBFC's rejection of a certificate for the film MSG: Messenger of God was overturned by an appellate tribunal. She was later replaced by Pahlaj Nihalani. His appointment caused more than half the board members to resign alleging Pahlaj Nihalani is close to the present ruling party.[25]

CBFC was panned by social media for reducing two kissing scenes in the movie Spectre.[26]

In 2016, the film Udta Punjab, produced by Anurag Kashyap and Ekta Kapoor among others, ran into trouble with the CBFC, resulting in a very public re-examination of the ethics of film censorship in India. The film, which depicted a structural drug problem in the state of Punjab, used a lot of expletives and showed scenes of drug use. The CBFC, on 9 June 2016, released a list of 94 cuts and 13 pointers, including the deletion of names of cities in Punjab. On 13 June, the film was cleared by the Bombay High Court with one cut and disclaimers. The court ruled that, contrary to the claims of the CBFC, the film was not out to "malign" the state of Punjab, and that it "wants to save people".[27] Thereafter, the film was faced with further controversy when a print of it was leaked online on a torrent site. The quality of the copy, along with the fact that there was supposedly a watermark that said "censor" on top of the screen, raised suspicions that the CBFC itself had leaked the copy to spite the filmmakers. It also contained the only scene that had been cut according to the High Court order. While the CBFC claimed innocence,[28] the lingering suspicions resulted in a tense release, with the filmmakers and countless freedom of expression advocates taking to social media to appeal to the public to watch the film in theatres, as a conscious challenge against excessive censorship on art in India. Kashyap himself asked viewers to wait till the film released before they downloaded it for free, stating that he didn't have a problem with illegal downloads,[29] an unusual thing for a film producer to say. The film eventually released and grossed over $13 million finishing as a commercial success.[30]

In 2017, the film Lipstick Under My Burkha directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha, also ran into trouble with the CBFC which refused to certify the film, stating that "The story is lady oriented, their fantasy above life. There are contagious [sic] sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society."[31] Internationally, the film had been screened in over 35 film festivals across the world and notably earned eleven international awards prior to its official release in India, becoming an eligible entry for the Golden Globe Award Ceremony.[32] The filmmakers appealed this decision to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), which overruled the censor board's ruling, thereby granting the film a theatrical release rights.[33] FCAT asked the filmmakers to make some cuts, mostly related to the sex scenes, at their discretion. The film released with an "A" or adults certificate, equivalent to an NC-17 rating in the United States, with some voluntary edits. Shrivastava told Agence-France Presse: "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."[34]

References

  1. 1 2 "Background". CBFC Website. Central Board of Film Certification. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  2. Ashreena, Tanya (16 Jan 2015). "Censor board chief Leela Samson quits over Dera Sacha Sauda leader's Bollywood dreams". Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  3. Dhwan, Himanshi (29 March 2011). "Danseuse Leela Samson is new Censor Board chief". Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. IndiaTimes Movies staff reporter (22 July 2002). "Vijay Anand Quits Censor Board". Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  5. rediff. com Entertainment Bureau Staff reporter (8 October 2003). "Anupam Kher is new chief of censors". Rediff Movies. rediff. com. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  6. Indo-Asian News Service (16 October 2004). "Sharmila Tagore replaces Kher". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  7. "Tamil Nadu film producers grease palms to get ‘U’ certificates". The Times of India. 20 August 2014.
  8. "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Film | India cuts 'anti-war' film". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  9. "Censorship and Indian Cinema: The Case of Anand Patwardhan's War and Peace - Bright Lights Film Journal". Bright Lights Film Journal. 2002-11-01. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  10. "BBC NEWS | Business | India's film censor wants to legalise porn". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  11. "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Film | India's chief film censor quits". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  12. "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Film | UK premiere for Indian drag film". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  13. "YIDFF: Publications: DocBox: #22". www.yidff.jp. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  14. "Censorship in India". Wikipedia. 2017-07-21.
  15. "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Film | India bans religious riot movie". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  16. "Towards A Counter Movement!". 28 May 2006. Archived from the original on 28 May 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  17. "RAKESH SHARMA - Final Solution". www.rakeshfilm.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  18. "BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Da Vinci code faces further ban". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  19. "BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | India censors clear Da Vinci Code". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  20. Child, Ben (2012-01-30). "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo cancelled in India". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  21. "Censorship in India". Wikipedia. 2017-07-21.
  22. "Censor board CEO held for accepting bribes to clear films quickly". The Times of India. 19 August 2014.
  23. "Directors out against CBFC directives". The Hindu. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  24. "The Times Group". epaperbeta.timesofindia.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  25. "India's censorship board in disarray amid claims of political interference". The Guardian. 21 Jan 2015.
  26. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/19/spectre-kissing-censored-in-india
  27. "Udta Punjab not made to malign state: Bombay HC". The Indian Express. 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  28. "'Udta Punjab' leak: CBFC claims innocence as all fingers point at them | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  29. "Udta Punjab leaked: Kashyap asks downloaders to wait till Saturday". The Indian Express. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  30. "Udta Punjab (2016) - Box office / business". IMDb. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  31. "CBFC refuses to certify Prakash Jha's film Lipstick Under My Burkha - Mumbai Mirror -". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  32. "The Cultural Cow That Refuses To Certify A Golden Globe Eligible Film". WMF. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  33. ""The middle finger is NOT for the CBFC but for the patriarchal society" : Ekta Kapoor". www.zoomtv.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  34. correspondent, Michael Safi South Asia (2017-04-26). "Indian film board clears Lipstick Under My Burkha for release". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
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