The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has a new set of guidelines for certifying films for public exhibition in India. Issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the revised rules replace the guidelines that had been in place since December 1991, bringing a fresh framework for film certification.The new guidelines outline what filmmakers can and cannot show on screen, with specific provisions covering violence, drug consumption, smoking, sexual content, portrayal of women, children and animals, and scenes involving religion and national security.
They also reiterate the need to protect creative freedom and ensure that certification keeps pace with changing social values.But what do these changes mean for filmmakers and audiences? Here is a closer look at the new rules.A new framework after 35 years One of the biggest changes is the replacement of the December 6, 1991 notification.
The new guidelines retain several existing principles of film certification but bring them under a revised framework.The government has stated that film certification should strike a balance between responsible storytelling and artistic freedom. It says creative expression should not be restricted unnecessarily, while films should also remain sensitive to the values and standards of society.
The objectives include encouraging films with artistic and cinematic merit, responding to social change and ensuring that cinema provides clean and healthy entertainment.Stricter scrutiny of violence and crimeThe new guidelines make it clear that films should not glorify or justify anti-social activities, including violence. They also caution against showing the methods used by criminals or including visuals and dialogues that could encourage people to commit offences.The CBFC has also been asked to keep a check on unnecessary violence, cruelty and horror.
Scenes included primarily for entertainment, particularly those that could make audiences insensitive to violence or human suffering, should not be shown.This does not mean that films cannot explore crime, violence or disturbing subjects. However, the guidelines indicate that such material should have a narrative purpose rather than being included merely for shock value or entertainment.Children, women and animals: What the rules sayThe revised framework specifically addresses the portrayal of vulnerable groups.Scenes showing children being involved in violence, whether as victims, perpetrators or witnesses forced to watch it, should not be presented needlessly.
The same applies to depictions of child abuse.The guidelines also prohibit unnecessary scenes involving cruelty to animals and the ridicule or abuse of people with physical or mental disabilities.There is particular emphasis on the portrayal of women. Scenes that degrade or denigrate women are not permitted.
Sexual violence, including attempted rape, rape and molestation, should be avoided. If such incidents are essential to the film's story, they must be kept to a minimum, without showing graphic details.Similarly, scenes depicting what the guidelines describe as sexual perversions should be avoided.
If they are relevant to the narrative, they must be limited and should not contain unnecessary details.Drug consumption will require a statutory disclaimerAnother important provision concerns the depiction of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.Films showing or involving the consumption, use or trafficking of such substances must carry a specific statutory warning:"Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs."The guidelines also state that scenes which encourage, justify or glamorise drug addiction should not be shown.There are similar restrictions on the portrayal of alcohol and tobacco.
Scenes that justify or glorify drinking, or encourage and glamorise smoking and tobacco consumption, are not permitted.The distinction is important: the guidelines do not prohibit films from depicting these subjects altogether. Instead, they seek to prevent their presentation in a way that promotes or celebrates such behaviour.Obscenity, vulgarity and double-meaning dialoguesThe CBFC has also reiterated its position on content considered vulgar, obscene or indecent.The guidelines state that human sensibilities should not be offended by vulgarity, obscenity or depravity.
They also discourage the use of double-meaning words that are considered to appeal to what the document describes as 'baser instincts'.This provision could become relevant when examining dialogues, lyrics and humour in films, particularly where suggestive language forms part of a scene.Religion, communities and national securityThe revised guidelines also cover the depiction of communities, religion and matters of national importance.Films must not contain visuals or words that show contempt towards racial, religious or other groups. Content promoting communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific or anti-national attitudes is also restricted.The guidelines further state that films should not question India's sovereignty and integrity, endanger the security of the state, strain friendly relations with foreign countries or threaten public order.Defamatory content against individuals or groups, as well as material amounting to contempt of court, is also prohibited.
The document explains that this includes scenes that encourage disregard for court rules or undermine the dignity of the judiciary.The use of national symbols and emblems must also comply with the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.The U/A age categories remain importantThe new guidelines retain the age-based classification system, including U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+ categories.These classifications are intended to help parents decide whether a film is appropriate for their children.Under the rules, films considered suitable for children aged seven and above, but requiring parental guidance for younger viewers, can receive a U/A 7+ certificate. The same principle applies to U/A 13+ and U/A 16+ certifications.The guidelines also state that films which meet the prescribed standards but are considered unsuitable for non-adults should be certified for adult audiences only.For films receiving an unrestricted public exhibition certificate, the CBFC must ensure that they are suitable for family viewing, meaning all family members, including children, should be able to watch them together.Films may also be restricted to specific professional or specialised audiences if the Board believes their content warrants such a classification.A film will be judged as a whole, not just by individual scenesAn important aspect of the new guidelines is the instruction to assess a film in its entirety and consider its overall impact.The CBFC has been asked to examine films in the context of the period they portray, as well as the contemporary standards of the country and the people represented in them.
This is significant for historical films, period dramas and stories dealing with different cultural settings.In principle, this allows the Board to consider the larger narrative rather than judging every scene in isolation. However, the guidelines also state that a film should not deprave the morality of its audience.Even film titles will come under scrutinyThe new rules do not limit the CBFC's scrutiny to a film's visuals, dialogues and storyline.
Its title will also be examined carefully.The Board has been directed to ensure that film titles are not provocative, vulgar, offensive or in violation of the certification guidelines.This means that titles, too, will need to be assessed against the broader standards laid down in the notification.What does this mean for filmmakers?The revised guidelines offer a clearer outline of the subjects and portrayals that the CBFC will examine while certifying films. While several provisions continue the approach followed under the earlier framework, the new notification brings them together with updated age classifications and specific instructions on subjects such as drug-related content, sexual violence and the portrayal of children.For filmmakers, the larger question will be how these rules are interpreted during the certification process.
The provision allowing films to be assessed in their entirety and in the context of the period they depict could be particularly relevant for stories dealing with difficult or sensitive subjects.The government has stated that artistic expression and creative freedom should not be curbed unnecessarily. How effectively the Board balances that objective with the restrictions outlined in the new guidelines will ultimately determine their impact on Indian cinema.- Ends