CHENNAI, July 29 — Police in Chennai entered three cinema auditoriums on July 27 to remove minors, halting screenings of the film ‘Jana Nayagan’ for nearly an hour. The action took place at PVR Ampa Mall, PVR Grand Mall, and Ampa Mall, according to sources familiar with the enforcement. The Central Board of Film Certification had granted the film an A certificate, barring viewers under 18.
The producer distributed the picture to theatres with the understanding that exhibitors would enforce the age restriction. The police intervention came after minors were discovered in the audience, triggering a shutdown of screenings in three locations.
No official statement from the CBFC regarding the Chennai incidents has been released.
How certification works
The CBFC operates under India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Filmmakers submit a finished print along with a synopsis and dialogue script. An examining committee, composed of members from various backgrounds, views the film and recommends cuts, disclaimers, or a certificate category.
Producers can appeal a decision to the film certification appellate tribunal. The board has the power to revoke a certificate for violations, though it has rarely done so.
Established in 1950, the CBFC received statutory backing through the Cinematograph Act of 1952. As of 2026, the board maintains nine regional offices. The certification system issues four categories: U for unrestricted family-friendly exhibition, U/A requiring parental guidance, A restricted to adults 18 and above, and S for specialised audiences.
In November 2024, the U/A category was further refined into U/A 7+, U/A 13+, and U/A 16+.
The ‘A’ certificate and this case
Films with an A certificate are permitted for public exhibition only to adults. The guidelines allow strong violence, explicit sexual scenes, and abusive language, but prohibit words that insult or degrade women, men, or any social group. Controversial or suggestive themes are considered unsuitable for young viewers.
The producer of ‘Jana Nayagan’ released the film commercially on the understanding that exhibitors would check identification and enforce the age barrier. The events in Chennai indicate a breakdown in that enforcement chain.
India’s film censorship framework dates to the Indian Cinematograph Act of 1920, seven years after the production of the country’s first feature. Censorship boards were originally independent bodies under the police chiefs of Madras, Bombay, and other cities. The current statutory structure consolidated that authority under the central government.
It remains unclear whether the CBFC will take further action regarding the Chennai theatre operations. No disciplinary measures against the exhibitors or producer have been announced.
The film certification appellate tribunal offers a venue for any party to challenge adverse certification decisions, but the present situation centres on enforcement of the existing A classification, not on the certificate itself.
Sources
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