Censor Certificate fines

A proposed amendment to the Cinematograph Act of 1952 is set to make film certification norms more stringent. The Central Board of Film Certification has decided to levy fines for failure to properly display a films certification on its publicity material including promos, posters and while the screening of the film itself.

The draft Cinematograph Act, 2010 proposes to fine producers at fault up to Rs.5, 000 initially and an additional Rs.20, 000 per day thereafter. CBFC Mumbai’s regional officer Vinayak Azad said that implementation of the rule will be made more stringent by imposing the fines.

The Act also plans to give a major reprieve to filmmakers and actors dogged by obscenity charges. The draft states that a distributor or exhibitor cannot be punished for any obscenity charge brought involving a film passed and categorized by the CBFC.