The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has received a new 18-member board, with several familiar faces from Indian cinema, music, television and the wider arts community joining the panel.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the newly constituted board will come into effect immediately. Its tenure will run for three years, unless the government issues further orders before that period ends.
Who Are the New CBFC Members?
The latest panel features actors, filmmakers, musicians and other personalities from different parts of India’s entertainment industry.
Among the better-known names are Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Manoj Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej are also part of the newly appointed board.
The other members are Vinod Anupam, Abhishek Jain, Hansraj Hans, Supriya Yarlagadda, Yatindra Mishra, Rupali Ganguly, Neela Madhab Panda, Pallavi Joshi, Nishigandha Wad, Waman Kendre and Ramesh Patange.
Government Issues Fresh CBFC Notification
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the board has been reconstituted under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.
The ministry said the move had been pending for some time because some members of the earlier board were no longer active and the terms of others had ended.
The CBFC generally gets a new composition at regular intervals. The previous board was constituted in 2017 and had 12 members.
Film Certification Has Been Under the Spotlight
The new appointments come at a time when the film certification process has attracted considerable attention from filmmakers and audiences.
Diljit Dosanjh’s film Satluj, earlier known as Punjab 95, is one recent example. The film was submitted for certification in 2022 and remained in the process for an extended period.
Its makers had alleged that the certification authorities sought numerous changes. The movie eventually became available on ZEE5 in July under the title Satluj, but was taken down from the platform in India shortly afterwards.
Other recent productions have also encountered certification-related hurdles.
Welcome To The Jungle received a UA 16+ certificate after several modifications, while the certification process involving Jana Nayagan contributed to release delays and court proceedings.
CBFC’s Role Remains the Same
Despite the change in membership, the fundamental responsibilities of the CBFC remain unchanged.
The board continues to function within the legal framework established by the Cinematograph Act and the 2024 certification rules. Its members are appointed for a term of up to three years.
The reconstitution therefore changes the composition of the body rather than its statutory mandate.
Full List of 18 CBFC Board Members
The newly announced board consists of:
- Manoj Joshi
- Suniel Shetty
- Preity Zinta
- Pankaj Tripathi
- Prosenjit Chatterjee
- Priyadarshan
- Ricky Kej
- Vinod Anupam
- Abhishek Jain
- Hansraj Hans
- Supriya Yarlagadda
- Yatindra Mishra
- Rupali Ganguly
- Neela Madhab Panda
- Pallavi Joshi
- Nishigandha Wad
- Waman Kendre
- Ramesh Patange
The appointments take effect immediately, with the board set to continue for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
