Pahlaj Nihalani welcomes ‘tatkaal certification’ by CBFC: This move will curb bribes that producers often have to pay | Hindi Movie News

Renowned filmmaker and former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief, Pahlaj Nihalani, has voiced his support for the introduction of the tatkaal certification for films, emphasizing its potential to mitigate delays and bribery within the film certification process.
Nihalani revealed in a statement to ETimes, that he had proposed this concept during the formation of the Shyam Benegal committee, which was tasked with recommending modifications to the CBFC.Expressing his disappointment over the shelving of the idea, Nihalani remarked, “This tatkaal seva was my suggestion to the ministry, and I presented it during the Shyam Benegal committee discussions, but unfortunately, it went into cold storage.”

Highlighting the need for swift certification, he drew parallels with other sectors, stating, “When we have tatkaal schemes in passports and railways, why can’t we have it in the Censor board? However, the certification must be done overnight; otherwise, the purpose will not be served.”

Nihalani’s proposed this speedy certification system to address delays caused by late film submissions to the board, which in turn cause delayed releases. He explained, “If a producer is late in submitting the film, they should be able to pay a premium price for tatkaal certification to prevent the film’s release from being postponed due to certification delays.”

He believes that implementing this form of certification will curb allegations of bribery within the industry. He stated, “This move will curb bribes that producers often have to pay for early certification. Instead of succumbing to corruption, producers can opt to pay the tatkaal fees and ensure timely releases without resorting to bribes.”

While acknowledging that smaller producers may feel financially strained by the additional cost, Nihalani clarified that the tatkaal option was not mandatory. “Small producers don’t have to go for it. A letter from a big producer on his release appeal can work without tatkaal. I understand that small producers often face the brunt of delays when their films are kept pending before the CBFC takes them for screening,” he remarked.

Closing his statement, he welcomed the tatkaal scheme with open arms and said that if it got implemented, he estimated a potential increase of Rs 10,000 in the overall certification cost for producers, who currently spend an estimated Rs 20,000 on acquiring CBFC certification for their films.