Indian Cinema and Censorship: Navigating the Challenges

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, that regulates the public exhibition of films in India.

The primary objective of film censorship in India is to protect public morals and values. This includes preventing the exhibition of films that contain obscene, vulgar, or sexually explicit content, as well as films that promote violence, hatred, or communal disharmony.

Documentary films, newsreels, short films, and educational films are exempt from censorship in India. This is because these films are considered to be of educational or informative value, and are not likely to cause harm to public morals or values.

The different categories of film certification in India are U (unrestricted public exhibition), UA (unrestricted public exhibition with parental guidance), A (restricted to adults only), and S (restricted to specialized audiences).

The A category of film certification is typically given to films that contain violence, gore, or adult themes. These films are restricted to adults only, and children under the age of 18 are not allowed to watch them.

If a producer is dissatisfied with the film certification decision, they can appeal to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT). The FCAT is an independent body that reviews film certification decisions and can overturn or modify the CBFC's decision.

In the landmark case of K.A. Abbas v. Union of India (1970), the Supreme Court held that film censorship in India is unconstitutional. The Court ruled that censorship violates the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.

Bandit Queen (1994), a biographical film about the Indian bandit Phoolan Devi, was banned by the CBFC in 1968 for its alleged obscenity and vulgarity. The film was eventually released in 1996 after the Supreme Court overturned the ban.

Udta Punjab (2016), a film about the drug problem in the Indian state of Punjab, was banned by the CBFC in 2015 for its alleged anti-national content. The film was eventually released in 2016 after the Bombay High Court overturned the ban.

Padmaavat (2018), a historical drama film based on the 16th-century poem Padmavat, was banned by the CBFC in 2018 for its alleged glorification of violence. The film was eventually released in 2018 after the Supreme Court overturned the ban.

The Accidental Prime Minister (2019), a biographical film about the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was banned by the CBFC in 2019 for its alleged portrayal of homosexuality. The film was eventually released in 2019 after the Supreme Court overturned the ban.

83 (2020), a sports drama film about the Indian cricket team's victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, was banned by the CBFC in 2020 for its alleged anti-Sikh content. The film was eventually released in 2020 after the Supreme Court overturned the ban.

Thappad (2020), a drama film about a woman who files for divorce after being slapped by her husband, was banned by the CBFC in 2021 for its alleged portrayal of violence against women. The film was eventually released in 2021 after the Supreme Court overturned the ban.

The Kashmir Files (2022), a drama film about the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s, was banned by the CBFC in 2022 for its alleged anti-Hindu content. The film was eventually released in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned the ban.