The CBFC has reconstituted itself with an 18-member panel for a three-year term, bringing prominent industry names onto the board. The move comes amid renewed discussions over the film certification process. Filmmakers have faced delays, cuts, and release-related hurdles.
Section 3(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 establishes the new CBFC. It aligns with Rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. The newly appointed board takes effect immediately. It will remain in place for three years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The reconstitution had been pending for some time. An I&B Ministry official, cited by NDTV, said some members of the previous board were no longer active. Others’ terms had expired. The CBFC generally reconstitutes itself every three years, and the previous board formed in 2017 and comprised 12 members.
The latest appointments include several familiar faces from the film industry. Actors Manoj Joshi, Suniel Shetty, Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Rupali Ganguly have been appointed to the new board. Filmmaker Priyadarshan and musician Ricky Kej are also among the members.
The reconstitution comes at a time when film certification remains a subject of considerable discussion within the industry. Recent cases involving prolonged certification procedures and demands for changes have brought renewed attention to the role of the CBFC in determining how and when films reach audiences.
One prominent example is Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj, which was earlier titled Punjab 95. The film, submitted to the CBFC in 2022, remained in the certification process for nearly three years. Its makers had claimed that the board sought as many as 127 cuts.
The film eventually premiered on ZEE5 in July under its new title, Satluj. It was reportedly released without the previously reported cuts but was removed from the streaming platform in India within 48 hours.
With the new board now in place, attention will remain on how the CBFC approaches film certification, particularly as filmmakers continue to navigate questions surrounding cuts, modifications and certification timelines.
