Nov 04, 2026 7:41pm IST
CBFC’s ‘Bizarre’ New Guidelines Worry Filmmakers; Better Planning Demanded (EXCLUSIVE)
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has issued new directives for filmmakers aiming to target the Indian market. In its five-point announcement, the CBFC has instructed makers to ensure that their projects are complete before submitting them to the Board, with all music and editing aspects in their final stages before sharing them.
The body aims to make it clear that any due process will not be expedited because of the project’s publicly announced release dates. The most-talked-about aspect remains the instruction not to publicize or consider final the title of the project, with the Board holding the right to modify it if needed.
Variety India speaks with industry experts and filmmakers who weigh in on the regulations and how they might affect the functioning of business.
Amit Rai, “OMG 2” writer and director, is unable to understand why the makers of films were not involved in the process of making these guidelines. “This is truly bizarre. If we go by these guidelines, the budget will rise exponentially. It will restrict the makers with time and monetary constraints, not allowing them to think freely.”
He finds the changing of a title on the Board’s “whims and fancies” as the most unbelievable, “The promotion of any film kickstarts with the title. Who is going to bear the loss of publicity money already spent? And what about associations like IMPPA and WICA who already charge for title registration? There’s already huge pressure to release a film at the right time. Narrowing that window through these guidelines will add extra burden.”
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Producer Tanuj Garg, who has backed projects like “Do Aur Do Pyaar” and “Tumhari Sulu,” says, "It's fine to submit final versions so long as the application processing time is significantly tightened. I am unsure about the control on film titles! It is neither fair nor viable!"
Meanwhile, Darshan Ashwin Trivedi, who has worked on the Gujarati-language projects “Mara Pappa Superhero” and “Mrugtrushna,” considers a more planned approach to be a feasible option. “Indian producers are accustomed to scheduling film releases around festive seasons. However, the new CBFC advisory prevents producers from pre-empting release dates, potentially delaying releases by several months due to the absence of a clearly defined certification timeline. Furthermore, producers are now expected to submit a final cut with locked graphics, VFX, sound, zero-reel graphics, etc., leaving big-budget films with virtually no room for even minor last-minute changes. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on content-based certification rather than treating censorship as a mechanism to control the art of cinema?”
Gaurav Verma, the former COO of Red Chillies Entertainment and the producer of “Jawan” and “Darlings” among other films, details how the regulations stand to curtail films’ creative process, especially considering their titles, “Some films need longer campaigns, particularly those relying on music or larger productions. If the board has final approval of titles, campaigns and publicity may be delayed until certification, making certification the first rather than the last step in a film’s release. This requirement applies only to Hindi films, not to English, Hollywood, or streaming releases, creating an uneven and impractical process.”
He suggests a more organized attempt, “Overall, the note appears to propose a schedule for producers and applicants so the Board can review films on time. If films must be submitted 45-60 days ahead, the board should announce the requirement at least 120 -150 days before it takes effect, giving producers time to adapt.”
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A famed actor-turned-producer who has three films releasing in the coming year says, “This is not possible. If the titles are not finalized before submission, then they should just review based on the content. Plus, they need to define what “work in progress” actually means. Are they expecting that the sound mixing and sound design would be done before sending the final copy meant for release? If any cuts or restructuring are asked by the censor board, will it be taken back for sound designing, mixing, dubbing and dialogue all over again? Moreover, if the release date is not announced, we cannot market and promote the film. They don’t attend a film until they see a release date and marketing plan. So while we can plan in advance, it remains to be seen whether they can do the same.”
The CBFC is yet to share any plans for amending or explaining its guidelines in a way that would help the makers, even as concern for the film industry’s future continues to grow.
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