In a bid to overhaul the film certification process in the country, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has framed some sweeping changes to the cinematograph rules, and the new set of rules will be notified in a few weeks. The new rules move the entire application process online, there will be a greater representation of women on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) or Censor Board, and the parental guidance certificate will be further sub-categorised into three age slots. While the ‘U’ (unrestricted public exhibition), ‘A’ (restricted to adults) and ‘S’ (restricted for specialised viewing) categories of certification have been left unaltered, the new age-based indicators within the ‘UA’ category will be visible on the certificates. For instance, films are to be classified by the CBFC as ‘UA 7+’, ‘UA 13+’ and ‘UA 16+’, wherein the numbers depict the age below which their exhibition is not recommended without parental guidance. According to the earlier rules (1983), “the Central government may take such steps as it thinks fit to appoint women members in the Board so that there is due representation for women”; the new rules put a definite ratio to that representation — at least one-third women, but ideally half. “The Central Government may take such steps as it thinks fit to appoint women members in the Board so that there is due representation for women, where one-third of the members in the Board shall be women and preferably half shall be women,” states the 2024 rules. The Ministry has invited comments and suggestions on these Draft Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, till March 1, 2024, after which, these rules will formally come into effect in due course. This is in consonance with the provisions of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which was notified last year, officials say. Significantly, the role of third parties in the certification process has been totally done away with in the wake of allegations of bribery against middlemen. The applications can only be submitted online, as per the draft rules. It says, “Every application to certify a film for public exhibition shall be made on the online portal of the Board, hereinafter referred to as the e-cinepramaan portal.” As per the earlier rules, “application to certify a film for public exhibition had to be made in writing”, and addressed to the Board and delivered to the regional officer concerned. In September last year, Tamil actor-producer Vishal had levelled corruption allegations against the Mumbai office of CBFC, claiming that bribe was sought for certification. In the wake of the controversy, the Censor Board issued a statement that it has “zero tolerance for corruption”, and will take the steps needed to correct this issue. The I&B Ministry had also ordered a CBI enquiry in the case, which is pointing to the role of “agents” or “middlemen” seeking bribes from filmmakers to expedite the process. Significantly, in a relief to filmmakers, the new rules also provide that a certificate granted by the CBFC will be perpetually valid. As of now, a certificate was only valid for 10 years, after which a film had to be recertified. Currently, films certified ‘A’ are prohibited from exhibition on television, a fact noted by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur in Lok Sabha recently. As per the 2024 draft rules, any application to recertify or change the category of a film for exhibition on television or media other than the medium originally certified can also be made on the e-cinepramaan portal. However, while re-certifying a film, the board may direct the applicant to carry out some excisions or modifications in the film. After passage by both the Houses of Parliament and subsequent assent of the President, the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, was notified on August 4, 2023. Presently, films are certified for screening by the CBFC under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, which the new Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, aim to supersede. Last month, the Ministry came out with Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment, which will also be notified in the coming weeks. These guidelines are applicable for those feature films that are certified by the CBFC for public exhibition in cinema halls/movie theatres for commercial purposes.
