NEW DELHI: Sex sells, and no one knows it better than the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), or the censor board, which is flooded with ‘adult films’ seeking clearance for theatrical release. The CBFC may have been mocked by filmmakers as sanskaari (cultured), but when it comes to clearing films with an ‘A’ certificate, it is not being shy.
An investigation by Express revealed that 405 adult films were given ‘A’ certificates by the censor board between March and December 2015. Sources said 33 films were rejected because of excessive sex scenes and violence. When the producer of sex-thriller Road Romance was advised by the board last year to snip 40 mins of sex scenes, he refused and filed an appeal with a revising committee. The nine-member panel also found it unsuitable for the adult audience and turned down even the ‘A’ certificate. However, other films such as Love Hunter, Lady Dracula and School Teacher were cleared for release. Analysis of data shows that at least one adult film, which thrives on video and single-screen release in small towns, was cleared with an ‘A’ certificate.
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Sources in the film industry Express spoke to said 80 per cent of films that come for certification fall under the adult category. Such films are generally made on a shoestring budget with a skeleton crew.
“Several such films like Bheege Honth Tere, Phir Ek Baar Beabru, Darling Don’t Cheat and Tere Jism Se Jaan Tak were released last year. All of them were made with a low budget within 15-20 days at a single location,” said a producer.