Every country has a censor board that reviews the content of films and certifies them (even suggests changes) so that it can be shown to the right audiences. CBFC is that board in India.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a Statutory body in India under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Its main objective is to regulate the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
The Cinematograph Act basically says that a film shall not be certified if any part of it is against the interests of the country, or involves defamation or contempt of court or is likely to incite any kind of offence.
Currently, all Indian films are certified under the following four categories:
- Unrestricted Public Exhibition
- Unrestricted Public Exhibition – but with a word of caution that Parental discretion required for children below 12 years
- Restricted to
adults - Restricted to any special class of persons
Here’s the vision & mission statement of CBFC India.
Vision: To ensure the good and healthy entertainment in accordance with the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 1983.
Mission:
- To ensure healthy entertainment, recreation and education to the public.
- To make the certification process transparent and responsible.
- To create awareness among advisory panel members, media and film makers about the guidelines for certification and current trend in films through workshops and meetings.
- To adopt modern technology for certification process through computerization of certification process and upgradation of infrastructure.
- To maintain transparency about Board’s activities through voluntary disclosures, implementation of e-governance, prompt replies to RTI queries and publication of annual report.
- To develop CBFC as a Centre of Excellence
- Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they have been certified by CBFC.
The Board consists of non-official members and a Chairperson (all of whom are appointed by the Union Government) and functions with headquarters at Mumbai. It has nine Regional Offices at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Cuttack and Guwahati. The Regional Offices are assisted in the examination of films by Advisory Panels. The Union Government nominates the Members of the panels by drawing people from different walks of life for a period of two years.
