Kerala High Court stalls CBFC order on film submissions

Kochi: Kerala High Court has asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) not to insist filmmakers submit censor copies of the movies on CUBE, UFO or any other digital formats for one month. The filmmakers were hit by the new rule imposed by the CBFC as they were forced to shell out Rs 50,000 per copy. Movie makers with a small budget were the worst hit. Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce moved the court seeking to quash the decision of the CBFC.

CBFC Chairman, Pahlaj Nihalani, on July 4, 2016, has ordered that henceforth the films should be sent for previews only in the digital cinema package (DCP) format. CBFC took a decision to submit movies in this format instead of digital video disc ( DVD) because the DCP format helps prevent piracy. Filmmakers argue that the DCP format will add Rs 50,000 to the budget of the film and that if they have to alter, they will have to shell out another Rs 50,000. DCP is a collection of digital files used to store and convey Digital Cinema audio, image, and data streams. Justice P. B. Suresh Kumar passed the interim order.