📌 Key Points
- MIB reports film certification time reduced to an average of 18 days.
- H Vinoth’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ faces censor delays, caught in CBFC review.
- 55 films were challenged before the revising committee in 2025.
- Filmmakers can appeal CBFC decisions in High Court, as per Cinematograph Act.
Amidst the ‘Jana Nayagan’ censor row, the MIB announced a reduction in average film certification time to 18 days. Data reveals films challenged before revising committees, indicating ongoing complexities in the certification process. The ministry emphasizes commitment to transparency.
MIB Announces Reduced Certification Time
H Vinoth’s Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan is stuck in a censor limbo with the CBFC. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting spoke about the censorship process.
H Vinoth’s Vijay -starrer Jana Nayagan, touted as the Tamil star’s last film before he enters politics, has been stuck with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Amid this, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) informed the Lok Sabha that the average time for a film to be certified has dropped to 18 days. The MIB also released data about the number of films challenged before the revising committee (RC) or the High Court (HC).
‘Jana Nayagan’ in Censor Limbo
The CBFC operates according to the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. The MIB also released data on the number of films certified each year, along with the number challenged before the RC and HC since the abolition of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) in 2021. According to the ministry, the time taken by the RC to review films is within the timeframe specified in Rule 37(7) of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. Data of films certified as per the PIB website :
If the filmmakers disagree with the board’s decision, the Cinematograph Act provides for an appeal against the board’s order before the HC. “The Government is committed to maintaining a transparent and accountable certification process, while protecting creative freedom and discharging its obligations under the Cinematograph Act,” said the ministry.
Films Challenged Before Revising Committee
After a single judge asked the CBFC to certify the film, the board got a stay from an HC bench on the order. The producer moved the Supreme Court (SC) but was asked to seek relief at the HC. There has been no relief for the Jana Nayagan team so far, as the bench heard both sides and sent the matter back to a single-judge bench. Both the CBFC and the film’s producer have refused to confirm if the film was sent to a revising committee after that.
The MIB aims for a transparent certification process that balances creative freedom with regulatory obligations. ‘Jana Nayagan’s’ case highlights ongoing challenges within the film certification system as filmmakers seek timely resolutions.
