Filmmaker Honey Trehan has criticised the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) latest advisory for filmmakers, accusing it of reflecting “cowardice and dictatorship” rather than a democratic approach to freedom of speech. His remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of the certification process following the prolonged delays faced by his film Satluj, starring Diljit Dosanjh.
The CBFC issued the advisory on October 26, making it clear that announced film titles and release dates would not be taken into consideration while processing certification applications. The guidelines have drawn attention from the film industry, particularly because several productions have faced delays, title changes and cuts during the certification process.
Trehan shared a poster of Satluj, posted by Variety India, on his Instagram Stories. The poster carried the words ‘New CBFC guidelines for filmmakers’. Reacting to the advisory, he wrote, “New Guidelines shows and underlines the Cowardness & the Dictatorship in the country not the Democratic approach towards the freedom of speech.”
What the new CBFC advisory says
The latest advisory follows revised film certification guidelines issued in September. It requires filmmakers to submit the final version of their films for certification, complete with titles, graphics and sound. Incomplete works will not be accepted for examination.
The board has also clarified that publicly announced titles and release dates will not be treated as binding during the certification process. Film titles will remain subject to scrutiny and can be reviewed or modified by the examining or revising committee. Announcing a release date will not guarantee faster certification or priority processing.
The CBFC was reconstituted in September this year, for the first time since 2017, with 18 members appointed to the board. Former Prasar Bharati chief executive Shashi Shekhar Vempati was appointed its chairperson. Among the members are actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty and Pallavi Joshi, along with music composer Ricky Kej and producer Supriya Yarlagadda.
Satluj's prolonged certification battle
Trehan's criticism comes against the backdrop of the nearly three-year struggle to secure certification for Satluj. The film, starring Diljit Dosanjh, went through a prolonged standoff with the CBFC, with the makers and the board unable to reach an agreement over the changes sought during the certification process.
The project was initially titled Ghallughara before being renamed Panjab ‘95. Based on the life of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film was eventually released on Zee5 in July under the title Satluj, reportedly without cuts and without a formal announcement. However, it was taken down from the streaming platform within hours of its release.
The film's certification dispute had drawn attention to the difficulties faced by filmmakers when their projects encounter objections during the board's examination process.
Jana Nayagan and other films have faced certification hurdles
Another high-profile film to face a prolonged certification dispute was Jana Nayagan, actor Vijay's final film before his political career. The Tamil film was sent to a revising committee at the last minute, ahead of its planned theatrical release during the Pongal festival in January.
The makers challenged the CBFC's decision in court but did not receive relief. The film eventually reached theatres in July after its producers agreed to the changes sought by the board.
Several other films across the country have also faced alterations during certification, including the removal of scenes and changes to titles. The latest advisory has therefore renewed questions about the certification process and its implications for filmmakers' creative freedom.