Online censor certification to start by mid March, new rules may shock producers

It’s only a matter of days now before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) gets a grand makeover. The censor board will go digital, probably on March 15 or 16, an insider has informed. This means that all films will then be censored online. The source added that all the paperwork, blueprint and the fine print for this new step are in place .

“It has taken us more than a year to get the details in place. We are all set to go digital this month. Henceforth, all films will be censored online which completely eliminates all possibilities of producers jumping the queue to get their films certified,” said the source.

The most serious fall-out of digitalised certification would be felt on the advance advertisement and publicity of films. “Things had come to such a sorry pass that producers had begun to lie to us about their release date so as to get their censor certificates on priority. A few days before Holi, at least 8-9 producers submitted their films pleading that their film are releasing for Holi. Most of them were lying. It’s strictly first-come-first-serve now... Producers can no longer advertise their release dates until they have a censor certificate in hand. How can they be sure their film will be certified?And until they are sure, how can they announce their release dates?” the source added.

Online certification works both ways. “If producers bring their films to us six weeks or four weeks before release they will have their censor clearance long before release. But from now on, if they come to us a few days before release they are unlikely to make their deadlines.”