Central Board of Film Certification
| File:CBFC logo.png | |
| Formation | 1952 |
|---|---|
| Type | Government Agency |
| Purpose | Film |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India |
Region served | India |
Chairperson | Leela Samson |
| Website | CBFC |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2010) |
The Central Board of Film Certification (popularly known as the Censor Board) is a government of India regulatory body and censorship board of India controlled by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It reviews, rates and censors motion pictures, television shows, television ads, and promotional material. It regulates the public exhibition of films in India under the provisions of The Cinematograph Act 1952. Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after certification by the Board.
According to the Supreme Court of India [1]:
Film censorship becomes necessary because a film motivates thought and action and assures a high degree of attention and retention as compared to the printed word. The combination of act and speech, sight and sound in semi darkness of the theatre with elimination of all distracting ideas will have a strong impact on the minds of the viewers and can affect emotions. Therefore, it has as much potential for evil as it has for good and has an equal potential to instill or cultivate violent or good behaviour. It cannot be equated with other modes of communication. Censorship by prior restraint is, therefore, not only desirable but also necessary
.
Current certificates
The CBFC currently issues the following certificates.
| Symbol | Name | Definition/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| U | Universal | All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children. Films under this category should not upset children over 4. This rating is similar to the MPAA's G, the BBFC's U, and the OFLC's G ratings. |
| U/A | Parental Guidance | All ages admitted, but certain scenes may be unsuitable for children under 12. This rating is similar to the MPAA's PG-13, the BBFC's 12A, and the OFLC's PG and M ratings. |
| A | Adults Only | Only adults are admitted.
Nobody younger than 18 may rent or buy an A-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category do not have limitation on the bad language that is used. Hard drugs are generally allowed, and strong violence/sex references along with non-detailed sexual activity is also allowed. This rating is similar to the MPAA's R and NC-17, the BBFC's 18, and the OFLC's MA and R ratings. |
| S | Restricted to any special class of persons | This rating signifies that the film is meant for a specialised audience, such as doctors. |
Board Members
The following are members of
- Dr. (Mrs.) Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi
- Dr. (Mrs.) Sadhana Kapoor
- Smt. Geeta Chandran
- Captain Vijay Kimar Trehan
- Shri. L. Suresh
- Shri. Soumendhu Roy
- Shri. Sharad Misraa
- Shri. Puneet Bagrodia
- Shri. Shravan Shroff
- Shri. Sandhi Mukherjee
- Smt. Pandit Durga Jasraj
- Mr. Subba Rao
- Shri. Rajiv Arora
- Shri. M.V. Bhasker Rao
- Smt. Alka Singh
- Smt. Kodali Indira Benarjee
- Smt. Bobbeeta Sharma Monorom
- Shri. Tom Vadakkan
- Shri. Dilip Cherian
- Smt. M. Shrimani
- Shri. Pankaj Sharma
- Shri. Krishna Mohan
- Smt. Urmila Roongta
Name and Tenure of the Chairperson
| Sr. No. | Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C.S. AGGARWAL | 15-01-1951 | 14-06-1954 |
| 2 | B.D. MIRCHANDANI | 15-06-1954 | 09-06-1955 |
| 3 | M.D. BHATT | 10-06-1955 | 21-11-1959 |
| 4 | D.L. KOTHARI | 22-11-1959 | 24-03-1960 |
| 5 | B.D. MIRCHANDANI | 25-3-1960 | 01-11-1960 |
| 6 | D.L. KOTHARI | 02-11-1960 | 22-04-1965 |
| 7 | B.P. BHATT | 23-04-1965 | 22-04-1968 |
| 8 | R.P. NAYAK | 23-04-1968 | 15-11-1969 |
| 9 | M.V. DESAI | 12-12-1969 | 19-10-1970 |
| 10 | R. SRINIVASAN | 20-10-1970 | 15-11-1971 |
| 11 | VIRENDRA VYAS | 11-02-1972 | 30-06-1976 |
| 12 | K.L. KHANDPUR | 01-07-1976 | 31-01-1981 |
| 13 | HRISHIKESH MUKHERJEE | 01-02-1981 | 10-08-1982 |
| 14 | APARNA MOHILE | 11-08-1982 | 14-03-1983 |
| 15 | SHARAD UPASANI | 15-03-1983 | 09-05-1983 |
| 16 | SURRESH MATHUR | 10-05-1983 | 07-07-1983 |
| 17 | VIKRAM SINGH | 08-07-1983 | 19-02-1989 |
| 18 | MORESHWAR VANMALI | 20-02-1989 | 25-04-1990 |
| 19 | B.P.SINGHAL | 25-04-1990 | 01-04-1991 |
| 20 | SHAKTI SAMANTA | 01-04-1991 | 25-06-1998 |
| 21 | ASHA PAREKH | 25-06-1998 | 25-09-2001 |
| 22 | VIJAY ANAND | 26-09-2001 | 19-07-2002 |
| 23 | ARVIND TRIVEDI | 20-07-2002 | 16-10-2003 |
| 24 | ANUPHAM KHER | 16-10-2003 | 13-10-2004 |
| 25 | SHARMILA TAGORE | 13-10-2004 | 31-03-2011 |
| 26 | LEELA SAMSON | 01-04-2011 | Till Date |