Overview
- The Central Board of Film Certification is now enforcing that the version it certifies must be the final, locked cut with no later cuts, additions or appended subtitles allowed.
- Filmmakers lose a common operational safety net that let them make last‑minute trims, structural adjustments or add late subtitles after certification with board sign‑off.
- Exhibiting an altered version without explicit CBFC clearance can breach the Cinematograph Act and may expose producers and exhibitors to penalties or certificate revocation.
- Industry reports say the directive is being applied on the ground and that the CBFC was not available for public comment, leaving questions about formal guidance and how enforcement will be handled.
- The move follows earlier rule changes to the certification process and will force tighter pre‑release workflows for post‑production, subtitle localization and distribution planning.