Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC]

The Cinematographer Act 1952 and the Cinematograph Certification rules 1983 formulate the censor board or the Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC] which consists of a chairperson and a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 25 members responsible for certifying a film ready for public exhibition. Under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, this statutory body is responsible for regulating the public display of films.

Cinema has always been grabbing the attention of millions, irrespective of age. It is not only an important source of entertainment and amusement but also is considered the mirror of society. It not just rejoices in a very crucial positioning in the public domain but also has a great impact on the hearts and minds of the people globally. Hence, the content must be supervised by the censor and the certification board, CBFC, the Central Board of Film Certification.

Importance of Film Censorship

As the masses are highly influenced by the audio and visual and the film's content, it becomes imperative to scrutinize and review the product before it reaches the masses. The Cinematograph Act 1952 (Act 37 of 1952) mentions the functioning of CBFC and also the film certification categories like

• U (Unrestricted Public Exhibition).
• A (restricted to adult audiences).
• U/A (Unrestricted Public exhibition subject to parental guidance for minors).
• S (restricted to specialized audiences such as doctors, scientists, or other special categories of people).

The Central Board of Film Certification works with various advisory panels appointed in regional offices with a head regional officer. Often the CBFC is in the news because of the controversies between the filmmakers and the censor board. The filmmakers look forward to completing freedom for the films they make, and the board often demands cuts and edits to make them more appropriate for public viewing.

Mission and Vision of Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC]

The main motive of the Central Board of Film Certification is to ensure healthy recreation for the masses by making the certification procedure more transparent and answerable. It creates awareness and updates the advisory panel members, media, and filmmakers about the latest trends through workshops and meetings and also motivates them to adapt to the changing technologies.

The CBFC keeps in mind the provisions of The Cinematograph Act 1952 that restrict the film certification if it is against India's sovereignty and integrity and violates friendly relations with foreign nations or is against public order and decency or involves any contempt of court. The certification also shows the film's language, violence, or incorrect portrayal of personalities.

FAQs on Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC]

Q1. What is the main objective of the Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC]?

Ans: The main objective of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is to regulate the public exhibition of films under the Cinematograph Act 1952.

Q2. According to the Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC], what is the U/A certification of the film?

Ans: The U/A certification, as per the Central Board of Film Certification, denotes Unrestricted Public exhibition subject to parental guidance for minors and kids below 12 years of age. It may contain moderate frightening scenes, abusive language, and violence.

Q3. What do you mean by certifying a film as per the Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC]?

Ans: As per the Central Board of Film Certification, film certification allows a particular film to be appropriate for public viewing with certain modifications or categorization.

Q4. What is an 'S' rated movie according to the Central Board of Film Certification [CBFC]?

Ans: An 'S' rated movie, according to the Central Board of Film Certification, is a movie that is restricted to specialized audiences such as doctors, scientists, etc.