The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been reconstituted with an 18-member board featuring several prominent names from Indian cinema and the wider entertainment industry.
According to the report supplied for this story, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the new board on Wednesday. The panel includes actors Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Roopali Ganguly, Pallavi Joshi, Pankaj Tripathi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, among other members.
The new board has been constituted under the powers provided by the Cinematograph Act for a period of three years or until further orders, according to the supplied report.
The development comes after a substantial gap since the CBFC’s previous board was formally reconstituted in August 2017.
Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Other Film Names Join the New Board
The newly constituted panel brings together actors, filmmakers, writers and other public figures from different parts of India’s cultural and entertainment sectors.
The names listed in the supplied report include:
- Preity Zinta
- Suniel Shetty
- Roopali Ganguly
- Pallavi Joshi
- Pankaj Tripathi
- Prosenjit Chatterjee
- Vinod Anupam
- Manoj Joshi
- Abhishek Jain
- Ricky Kej
- Priyadarshan
- Hansraj Hans
- Supriya Yarlagadda
- Yatindra Mishra
- Nila Madhab Panda
- Nishigandha Wad
- Waman Kendre
- Ramesh Patange
The board will function under chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati, according to the supplied material.
What Is the CBFC?
The Central Board of Film Certification is India’s statutory film-certification authority operating under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Its role is to examine films intended for public exhibition in India and issue the applicable certification under the country’s film-certification framework.
The CBFC’s work can involve certification categories, proposed modifications and the functioning of committees involved in the review process.
The reconstitution of its board therefore represents an administrative change in the membership of the body responsible for this statutory function.
New CBFC Board Gets Three-Year Tenure
The new panel has been constituted for three years or until further orders, according to the source report.
The appointment follows a relatively long interval since the previous formal reconstitution in 2017.
A board’s composition can be significant because its members participate in the governance and oversight structure surrounding film certification, while the day-to-day examination of individual films involves the certification mechanisms prescribed under the applicable rules.
CBFC Had Recently Held Its First Board Meeting in Years
The reconstitution also follows a recent development within the certification body.
According to the supplied report, the CBFC held its first board meeting in six years earlier this month.
Members reportedly discussed issues connected with film certification and the functioning of Revising Committees.
The meeting provided an administrative context for the subsequent announcement of the newly constituted board.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati Continues as Chairperson
The reconstituted board will operate under Shashi Shekhar Vempati, who heads the statutory film-certification body, according to the report.
The chairperson oversees the broader functioning of the board within the framework established under the Cinematograph Act and related regulations.
The addition of 18 members creates a new composition for the board at a time when film certification remains an important part of India’s exhibition system.
The Board Includes Multiple Areas of Creative Expertise
The new panel is not limited to film actors.
Along with performers such as Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Pankaj Tripathi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, the list includes individuals associated with music, filmmaking, literature, theatre and other creative fields.
Among the names mentioned are music composer Ricky Kej, filmmaker Priyadarshan, lyricist and poet Yatindra Mishra, filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda and theatre personality Waman Kendre.
The range of backgrounds represented on the panel reflects the diverse creative sectors connected with the Indian film industry.
CBFC and the ‘Shoorveer’ Song Controversy
Separately, the CBFC has also addressed concerns surrounding the song “Shoorveer” from Mirzapur – The Movie.
In a separate communication, the board said that it had received concerns about the song in recent days.
According to the statement cited in the supplied report, Excel Entertainment Private Limited informed the CBFC that it would voluntarily replace the song from the relevant sequence, pending completion of the required formalities.
This development is separate from the board’s overall reconstitution but comes as another recent issue involving film content and certification.
What the CBFC Said About ‘Shoorveer’
The board’s reported statement said:
“Over the last few days several concerns were received over the song ‘Shoorveer’ in film ‘Mirzapur – The Movie’.”
It added that Excel Entertainment had informed the board of its decision to voluntarily replace the song from the relevant sequence while the necessary formalities were completed.
The statement concerns the song’s replacement and should not be interpreted as a broader finding about the film unless the CBFC or production team publishes additional information.
Why the Reconstitution Is Significant for the Film Industry
The CBFC occupies an important place in India’s film-exhibition system because certification is required before films can be publicly exhibited in the country.
The new board therefore brings a fresh group of members into the institutional framework overseeing certification-related functions.
For filmmakers and producers, the board’s composition is part of the wider regulatory environment in which films are submitted, reviewed and certified.
Full List of New CBFC Board Members
According to the supplied report, the 18 members are:
Preity Zinta
Suniel Shetty
Roopali Ganguly
Pallavi Joshi
Pankaj Tripathi
Prosenjit Chatterjee
Vinod Anupam
Manoj Joshi
Abhishek Jain
Ricky Kej
Priyadarshan
Hansraj Hans
Supriya Yarlagadda
Yatindra Mishra
Nila Madhab Panda
Nishigandha Wad
Waman Kendre
Ramesh Patange
Chairperson: Shashi Shekhar Vempati
CBFC Reconstitution: Key Details
Body: Central Board of Film Certification
Ministry: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
New board size: 18 members
Tenure: Three years or until further orders, according to the supplied report
Chairperson: Shashi Shekhar Vempati
Previous formal reconstitution cited: August 2017
Recent board meeting: Reportedly held earlier this month after a six-year gap
Separate recent content issue: “Shoorveer” from Mirzapur – The Movie
Final Word
The government has reportedly reconstituted the CBFC board with 18 members, bringing several well-known figures from Indian cinema, music, literature and the wider creative sector into the statutory film-certification body.
The new panel includes Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Pallavi Joshi, Suniel Shetty, Roopali Ganguly and Prosenjit Chatterjee, among others, and will operate under chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati.
The announcement follows a long gap since the previous formal board reconstitution cited in the report, as well as a recent board meeting that reportedly focused on film certification and Revising Committees.
Separately, the CBFC has said that Excel Entertainment will voluntarily replace the “Shoorveer” song sequence from Mirzapur – The Movie after concerns were received.
