My nephew in Singapore took his family to watch the movie Empuraan. At the theater entrance, security checked his son’s ID and denied him entry upon finding he was only 14. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has issued a UA16 + certificate for Empuraan.

The question that arises in our mind might be: are such stringent measures necessary? It’s this level of enforcement that shapes Singapore into the society it is today. It reflects the state’s deep concern for its younger generation—choosing not to leave such decisions solely to parental judgment.

Now consider India: how many of us noticed and acted on the discretion granted by the CBFC certification on a film like Empuraan?

First, let’s have a look into The Evolution of the CBFC Certification
The Central Board of Film Censors, established in 1951 and was tasked with reviewing and approving all films before they could be released to the public in India. In its early years, the board offered just two categories of certification: U (Universal): Open to all audiences without restrictions. And A (Adults Only): Restricted to individuals aged 18 and above.

In 1983, the Board was renamed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and introduced four certification categories: U (Unrestricted): Suitable for all age groups and can be shown to the general public without restrictions. UA: It is a certification in between U and A. Suitable for public viewing, but with a caution that parents should use their discretion for children under 12 due to potentially mature or sensitive content. A (Adults Only): Restricted to adult audiences, with individuals under 18 not permitted to view. S (Restricted to Specialized Audiences): This is intended for specific audiences, such as doctors, scientists, or professionals, and not for general public viewing.

In 2024, the UA (Parental discretion) category was subdivided into: UA 7+: Suitable for children aged 7 and above with parental supervision. UA 13+: Suitable for children aged 13 and above, with parental discretion for those below the age. UA 16+: Suitable for viewers aged 16 and above, with parental discretion for those below the limit.

The CBFC is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with its headquarters in Mumbai and nine regional offices across India. The Thiruvananthapuram regional office is responsible for certifying all films from Kerala and Lakshadweep, including Malayalam-dubbed versions of films in other languages.

The data for 24-25 shows inconsistencies, as the figures on the CBFC website are mismatched, as shown below.

The certification figures show an upward trend from 2017 to 2025, with a notable dip during 2020–21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What stands out is the rise in certifications beyond the U category, particularly the increase in A (Adults Only) certifications.

So far, there have been no films that are S certified.

A comprehensive list of films under each certificate isn’t publicly available, so here’s an indicative list of some films:

Marco, advertised as the most violent movie, was given an A certificate, but the theatre entry was not restricted to adults (18 +). It had a strong box office run, thanks to lax law enforcement. The film has since been restricted from streaming on TV and OTT platforms.

Similarly, Officer on Duty, certified UA+16, performed well at the box office, largely because parents took responsibility for guiding their children through the violent and intense scenes. Empuraan (UA 16+) also saw significant success, with many parents—especially fans of Mohanlal and Prithviraj—taking their kids to the theater.

The criticism and controversies surrounding Empuraan, along with 17 voluntary cuts made by the filmmakers, raise serious questions about the CBFC’s competency and the lack of thorough scrutiny in their certification process.

CBFC is treading a precarious path. While it upholds the fundamental right to freedom of expression of opinion and thoughts, in the larger public interest, the CBFC is taking the utmost care to protect children from being exposed to such disturbing views and opinions. It has fixed the certifications based on the age of the children the adolescents. The CBFC raises the caution, and the discretion is left to the parents.

The big question is, are the parents taking this discretion seriously?. Such caution raised by the CBFC are thrown to the winds, take their children irrespective of their age to the movies. The parents who applaud violent scenes and aggressive dialogues of their heroes inadvertently send a message of approval to younger generations. It’s no surprise that many youths of today resort to violence even at minor provocations.

The CBFC’s certification system does not adequately protect adolescents from inappropriate content. In this failure, governing bodies, the media, society, and parents are neglecting their responsibilities.

Steps to Address the Issue:

1. Parental Responsibility
   Parents must embrace their vital responsibility in raising children with sound values, using discernment when deciding whether to expose their children to content flagged by the CBFC.
2. Refine UA Certification
   The CBFC’s UA certification should be made more specific, with clearer age-based restrictions rather than relying solely on parental discretion. Additionally, all certifications should be published prominently on the CBFC’s official website.
3. Mandatory Display of Certification
   Filmmakers must display the CBFC certificate clearly on all promotional materials, including posters, trailers, and digital advertisements.
4. Strict Enforcement at Theatres
   Theatre management must implement stringent checks to prevent underage viewers from entering screenings unsuitable for their age group.
5. Media Accountability
   The media should actively highlight the age restrictions associated with a film’s certification during reviews, promotions, and coverage.

Stephen Graham—co-creator, writer, executive producer, and actor of Adolescence, one of the most viewed and talked-about web series—aptly sums it up: “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Let’s rise to the occasion because the future depends on how we raise our children today.