77 films denied clearance by CBFC in 2015-2016

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has refused to certify a whopping 77 films in 2015-16, as against 47 films in 2014-15 and 23 films the year before that.

A written reply submitted by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Rajyavardhan Rathore in the Rajya Sabha stated that the rise in the number of films denied clearance by the film certification body increased in the last financial year under its chief Pahlaj Nihalani.

Haramkhor and Lipstick Under My Burkha are some of the films refused certification this year. That apart, the CBFC has been periodically recommending cuts for different films during the certification process, which may or may not be accepted by the film-maker.

The I&B ministry is yet to accept the recommendations of the Shyam Benegal committee, which had submitted a report suggesting that the CBFC’s censorship powers be chopped off and the cinematograph Act governing the film certification body be revised. The recommendation was objected to by Nihalani, who shot off a letter to I&B minister Venkaiah Naidu resisting the changes.

However, sources say cinematography rules will be amended this year.

Meanwhile, the government has doubled certification fees per film to Rs 39,000 as against the earlier fee of Rs 20,000.