CBFC Blocks Access to Film Cut Lists Citing Prolonged Maintenance

Opacity Clouds Film Certification Process

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has effectively shuttered public access to records detailing specific deletions and modifications ordered for films. For several days, the section of the official website designated for these cut lists has displayed a message claiming the system is under maintenance. This removal eliminates the primary method for the public to monitor adjustments made to current theatrical releases or upcoming titles.

This development follows a pattern of restricted information. In mid-2025, the CBFC altered its URL structures to prevent the automated retrieval of batch data. Furthermore, the descriptions of edits have grown increasingly vague, often omitting specific dialogue or scene details. Even the National Film Development Corporation’s Pune archive has reportedly stopped receiving physical censored portions for research purposes.

Institutional Delays and Judicial Rebuke

The transparency gap emerges amid accusations that the CBFC is failing its autonomous mandate. Recent controversies include:

• Significant delays in certifying Emergency, starring Kangana Ranaut, and Jana Nayagan, featuring C. Joseph Vijay.
• The withholding of certification for Honey Trehan’s Satluj, which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting subsequently pulled from online platforms.
• Suspension of certification for The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film concerning a Palestinian child's death in Gaza, reportedly due to geopolitical sensitivity.

Both the Bombay and Madras High Courts have recently issued criticisms of the CBFC’s conduct. Filmmakers argue the body is increasingly susceptible to political pressure, particularly regarding films that address caste, religious prejudice, or anti-establishment narratives.

Legal Mandates and Technical Justifications

Section 5A(2) of the Cinematograph Act of 1952 explicitly requires certificates to be published in the Gazette of India. While archival records at the Delhi Public Library confirm this was routine in the 20th century, the practice faded over time. Although the 2017 launch of the e-Cinepramaan portal was intended to modernize transparency, the recent removal of the digital table marks a reversal.

CBFC Chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati’s office defended the blackout, stating that parts of the system are undergoing technical maintenance to improve user experience and ensure compliance with mandatory rules. However, the agency did not clarify why a digital table requires such an extended outage or provide a timeline for restoration. While certificates can be viewed individually by scanning QR codes on physical documents, the ability to analyze broader censorship trends through searchable databases is currently non-existent.

Source: The Hindu — Home