Government Reconstitutes India’s 18-Member Film Board
Government Reconstitutes India’s 18-Member Film Board
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Key Points
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An Information and Broadcasting Ministry official said the reconstitution had been pending because some previous board members were no longer active and others had died; the CBFC is normally reconstituted every three years, but its last board, formed in 2017, had 12 members.
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The Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj, formerly titled Punjab 95, spent nearly three years in the certification process after being submitted in 2022. Its makers said the CBFC sought 127 cuts; although it later appeared on ZEE5 without cuts, it was removed from the Indian platform within 48 hours.
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The previous CBFC board held its first meeting in six years earlier this month, with members discussing film-certification issues and the functioning of Revising Committees.
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Welcome To The Jungle received a UA 16+ certificate after 18 modifications, illustrating the broader scrutiny surrounding recent film releases beyond the disputes involving Satluj and Jana Nayagan.
India's government has reconstituted its film censorship board for the first time since 2017, adding 18 members including actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, and Suniel Shetty Moneycontrol. The new panel, led by returning chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati, will serve three-year terms and includes filmmakers, musicians, and theater professionals The Print. Five of the 18 members are women, addressing gender representation on a board that had faced mounting criticism over certification delays and controversial film cuts.
The reconstitution comes after a seven-year gap, during which previous board members became inactive or died Moneycontrol. The delay sparked frustration in the film industry over decisions involving movies like Satluj, which faced 127 requested cuts, and Jana Nayagan, raising questions about the board's transparency and consistency in applying censorship standards.
A Seven-Year Delay Tests Film Industry Patience
The previous CBFC board was formed in 2017 and should have been replaced by 2020 The Print. Instead, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting let the post go unfilled for years. Moneycontrol reports that several previous members were no longer active and others had passed away, making reconstitution necessary. The delay left filmmakers without clear guidance or consistent decision-making on certification matters.
Satluj's Three-Year Battle Exposes Certification Chaos
The Diljit Dosanjh film Satluj became a lightning rod for board dysfunction. Submitted for certification in 2022 as Punjab 95, it spent nearly three years in limbo. The CBFC demanded 127 cuts before approving it. When the film finally appeared on streaming platform ZEE5 without any cuts, it was removed within 48 hours—a stark contradiction that deepened public anger over the board's decisions.
New Board Faces Questions on Consistency
Recent films show how unpredictable the old board had become. Welcome to the Jungle received a UA 16+ rating after filmmakers made 18 modifications. Moneycontrol notes the previous board held its first meeting in six years earlier this month, signaling how disconnected it had become from daily film industry needs. The new panel must restore credibility by applying clear, consistent standards across all submissions.
The new members include filmmaker Priyadarshan, music composer Ricky Kej, and actor Pallavi Joshi Khel Ja, bringing fresh perspectives from across the entertainment world. Their challenge: end the certification bottlenecks and unexplained delays that have frustrated producers and audiences alike.
Voluntary Song Swap in Mirzapur Signals New Approach
The board recently announced that the song
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