The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was set up by the Government of India (GOI) under the Cinematograph Act 1952, to certify films for public exhibition. All films--foreign, Indian, feature or documentary--have to obtain a CBFC certificate before they are screened at a cinema or broadcast on television.

Presently, the CBFC is chaired by Shakti Samanta, a distinguished filmmaker, and has 25 other non-official members. It has its headquarters in Mumbai (Bombay) and has regional offices in nine states, located at Mumbai , Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Cuttack, and Guwahati. These offices are assisted in the examination of films by advisory panels consisting of eminent personalities from different walks of life. In keeping with a government decision, about half the members of every such panel are women.

India produced a total of 795 feature films during 1995, and the figure for 1996 upto October was 545. Of the films made in 1996, 102 were in Hindi and 385 were certified from four southern regional offices--Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Thiruvananthapuram. The largest number of films were in Telugu (122), followed by Tamil (103). For the first time, there were two films in Spanish, and 14 in English. Apart from the officially recognized languages, films were also made in several dialects like Lambani and Sadari.

Of the 545 Indian feature films certified in 1996, 425 films were on social themes and 67 on crime. A total of 333 or 61% were granted 'U' certificates (unrestricted public exhibition), 86 or 16% 'UA' certificates which require parental guidance for children below 12 years of age, and 126 or 23% 'A' certificates (exhibition restricted to adults only). Among the 113 foreign feature films certified in 1996 (upto to October 31), 25 were granted 'U' certificates (22%), 25 'UA' certificates (22%) and 63 'A' certificates (56%).

The Board also certified 757 Indian short films, 181 foreign short films, nine long films other than feature (four Indian and five foreign), and 1066 motion pictures made on video.

Up until the end of October 1996, eight Indian feature films, 11 foreign feature films, and 10 foreign video feature films were refused certificates as they were found to be in violation of one or more of the statutory film certification guidelines. Some of these films were certified later in a revised form by the Board.

Of the 795 Indian feature films certified in 1995, 157 were in Hindi, and 559 were certified from the four southern regional offices--Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram. The largest number of films were in Telugu (168), followed by Tamil (165) and Hindi (157).There were 89 films in Kannada and 83 in Malayalam. There were as many as 18 films in English, and dialects in which films were made included Tulu, Nagpuri, and Bodo. There was also a silent film.

A total of 644 films were on social themes and 108 were on crime. The films given 'U' certificates numbered 503 (63%), 122 'UA' certificates (15%), and 170 'A' certificates (21%). Among the 220 foreign features certified, 49 were granted 'U' certificates (22%), 21 'UA' certificates (9%), and 150 'A' certificates (68%).

The Board also certified 850 Indian short films, 330 foreign short films nine long films other than features (three lndian and six foreign) and 1328 video films during 1995.

During the year, 21 Indian feature films and 14 foreign feature films were refused certificates as they were found to be in violation of one or more of the statutory film certification guidelines. Some of these films were certified later either in a revised form by the Board itself or on the orders of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal.