The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued revised guidelines for film certification in India, replacing the framework that had been in place since 1991. The update retains the broad structure of the earlier rules but revises language around creative freedom, social change, age ratings and content restrictions.
The Central Board of Film Certification has been directed to balance creative freedom with responsibility toward social values, ensuring films do not unnecessarily curb artistic expression. On violence, the guidelines state that films should not glorify or justify violent acts or provide detailed depictions of criminal methods that could encourage offences, and should avoid needless or entertainment-driven violence and cruelty.
The revised framework places specific emphasis on the protection of children, stating that content showing children as victims, perpetrators or forced witnesses of violence, or subjected to abuse, should not be presented. It also prohibits needless depictions of cruelty to animals and the abuse or ridicule of physically or mentally disabled persons.
On substance use, the guidelines state that films should not glorify drinking, drug addiction or smoking, and any depiction of narcotic or psychotropic substances must carry the prescribed anti-drug warning. On the portrayal of women, the guidelines prohibit content that degrades or denigrates women, and state that depictions of sexual violence should be minimised and shown without graphic detail where essential to the story.
The guidelines also retain restrictions on obscenity and sexually suggestive or double-meaning language, and prohibit contemptuous depictions targeting racial, religious or other communities. Content that questions India’s sovereignty, endangers state security or public order, or strains relations with foreign countries remains restricted, as does defamatory material or content that could amount to contempt of court.
The board has been instructed to judge a film in its entirety based on its overall impact, rather than assessing isolated scenes in isolation, and to evaluate films in light of the period they depict and contemporary social standards. The existing age-based UA certification system has been retained, with unrestricted films expected to remain suitable for family viewing.
The revised guidelines have drawn sharp criticism from sections of the film community and cinephiles, who have called several provisions vague and regressive. Critics argue that restrictions around depictions of courts, national security and foreign relations could make it difficult to produce socio-political films that engage critically with real events. Others have raised concerns that the broad language around curbing “excessive” violence or sexual content could be used to target filmmakers exploring serious or uncomfortable social themes, rather than genuinely protecting audiences. Some have gone further, warning that stricter, more subjective enforcement could discourage riskier storytelling and hurt theatrical viewership in the long run.
(Source: The Telegraph)
