Deccan News Service | Hyderabad

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Hyderabad office, once regarded as a crucial institution for Telugu cinema, is now struggling under severe functional handicaps. While the officials posted here are doing their best, structural gaps and administrative lapses have turned the board into a bottleneck for the Telugu film industry, which produces the largest number of films in India after Bollywood.

The first and most visible problem is the shortage of staff. With most employees retired, the Regional Officer today relies on just one regular staff member. Temporary deputations from the Films Division are often non-local, and many prefer to return to their own stations. For an industry where even a ₹500-crore production requires CBFC clearance before theatrical release, such skeletal staffing is untenable. In heavy work seasons, the Regional Officer is forced to call in officers from other wings of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, disrupting smooth functioning.

Equally worrying is the condition of the advisory committee, whose role is central to certifying films. Many members appointed here possess no knowledge of cinema, nor have they been trained in the Cinematograph Act, 1952. This has given rise to arbitrary decisions and even monopolistic behavior. Producers are often left at the mercy of committee members who neither understand the cultural nuance of Telugu nor the technicalities of film content.

A glaring example came when a committee member demanded the removal of the phrase “Devudulanti Manishi” (God-like man) in a promotional short film of a leading Telugu actor and former Union Minister. Ironically, the same member, listed as a Kannada language expert, admitted to not knowing how to read or write Kannada. Such incidents reflect the deep cracks in the system.

It must be noted that the CBFC Hyderabad officials cannot be squarely blamed, as committee appointments are made by the I&B Ministry. However, the time has come for reforms. The Hyderabad office requires adequate staffing and a complete overhaul of its advisory committee. At least 50% of members should be drawn from the film industry, proposed by the Film Development Corporation and Film Chambers. A written examination for local language and legal knowledge must also precede appointments.

The Telugu film industry contributes significantly to India’s cultural economy and international soft power. For such a dynamic sector to remain hostage to bureaucratic lapses is unacceptable. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting must urgently review the CBFC Hyderabad situation and implement reforms. This is the right moment to reconstruct the institution—ensuring it serves, rather than stifles, the Telugu film industry.

       Machiraju Prasad