Archive · 27 Sep 2025
CBFC Faces Criticism Over Censorship and Functioning
Imagine a group that decides if movies are okay to show in theaters.
This group, the CBFC, hasn't been working well lately.
It's like one person is making all the decisions, not the whole team.
They've been cutting parts of movies, even ones that won awards.
Filmmakers can't easily argue with the CBFC anymore because a special court that helped them was removed.
Now, filmmakers must either change their movies to fit the rules or delay when they come out, which isn't fair.
The CBFC is criticized for functioning as a "one-man show."
No official appointments to the board have been made since 2017.
The board has not held meetings since 2019.
Filmmakers face limited options for appealing censorship decisions.
The abolition of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) limits filmmakers' options.
- Who
- Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
- What
- Facing criticism over its functioning and censorship practices.
- When
- Since 2017, with no official appointments or meetings.
- Where
- India
- Why
- Due to concerns over centralized authority, censorship overreach, and lack of avenues for redressal.
Filmmakers
CBFC
Censorship Practices
Filmmakers
Oppose the CBFC's censorship and demands for cuts, leading to delays in release and creative compromise.
CBFC
N/A
Redressal Mechanisms
Filmmakers
Filmmakers lack adequate means to challenge the CBFC's decisions after the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal's removal.
CBFC
N/A
- CBFC Chairperson
- Prasoon Joshi
- Appointment of Chairperson
- August 2017
- Last Official Appointments
- 2017
- Last Board Meeting
- 2019
- Original Board Tenure End
- 2020
- Film Tribunal Abolished
- 2021