Any Tamil film meant for cinemas has to be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and for films made in Tamil Nadu or Puducherry that work is done at the board’s Chennai regional office in Shastri Bhavan, 35 Haddows Road. Applications are filed online, a committee watches the film, and the board issues one of six certificate types.
The process has been governed since March 2024 by the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, which replaced rules from 1983. Here is how it works from a producer’s side, and what the letters on a poster mean for an audience.
Which office handles a Tamil film
The CBFC has nine regional offices. Chennai’s covers Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to the board’s website. The Chennai office lists these contacts:
- Address: Shastri Bhavan, 35 Haddows Road, Chennai 600 006
- Phone: 044 2827 8764 / 044 2827 6859
- Email: rochen.cbfc@nic.in
Which office you apply to depends on where the film was produced, not its language. The CBFC’s FAQ says this is decided by where the title was registered with a producers’ association, or where the processing company’s head or production office is. A Tamil film registered in Hyderabad, for instance, would go there. Dubbed versions are certified by the office that certified the original, unless the Chairperson waives this in writing. Imported foreign films are certified only in Mumbai.
The certificate categories
| Category | What it means |
|---|---|
| U | Unrestricted public exhibition |
| UA 7+ | Unrestricted, with parental guidance for children under 7 |
| UA 13+ | Unrestricted, with parental guidance for children under 13 |
| UA 16+ | Unrestricted, with parental guidance for children under 16 |
| A | Adults only |
| S | Restricted to a specialised audience, such as doctors |
The three UA bands are new under the 2024 rules and replaced the old single UA threshold at 12. The age markers are advisory, meant to help parents decide, exchange4media reported. The certificate must also appear on posters, hoardings and trailers.
Filing the application
Applications go through the CBFC’s online portal, e-Cinepramaan, which also has a mobile app. For an Indian feature film, the FAQ lists these documents:
- The online application form
- A synopsis with English translation
- Song lyrics, typed, with time-code locations
- Credit titles and the shooting script
- A letter from the lab confirming the film’s duration and that the final copy is ready
- The title registration letter
- A publicity clearance certificate, where applicable
Fees are paid online and depend on the film’s length; the CBFC website has a fee calculator. Payment by demand draft is allowed only in exceptional cases. Films over 72 minutes count as long films, those between 10 and 72 minutes as medium, and anything up to 10 minutes as short.
How long it takes
The FAQ lists a time limit for each stage under the 2024 rules:
| Stage | Time allowed |
|---|---|
| Scrutiny of application | 7 days |
| Forming the examining committee | 15 days |
| Committee report to the Chairman | 3 days |
| Board’s order sent to applicant | 3 days |
| Applicant’s reply | 5 days |
| Checking the cuts | 10 days |
| Issuing the certificate | 5 days |
Added up, that is 48 days at most if every stage runs to its limit. Producers with an urgent release date can ask for priority screening, which the new rules provide for.
Other changes under the 2024 rules
- Certificates no longer expire. The old 10-year validity limit was removed.
- Women on the board. At least one third of board and advisory panel members must be women, and preferably half.
- Accessibility. Feature films must include accessibility features for viewers with disabilities, following guidelines issued from time to time, according to All India Radio.
- Television. Films edited for TV must be re-certified, since only films cleared for unrestricted exhibition can be shown there. A and UA films cannot simply be reclassified as U.
After certification, minor additions or deletions can be made by applying to the same office. Titles generally cannot change after certification and never after release.
Quick answers
Where is the CBFC office in Chennai?
At Shastri Bhavan, 35 Haddows Road, Chennai 600 006.
What does UA 13+ mean?
The film can be shown to everyone, but parents should decide whether children under 13 watch it.
Does a CBFC certificate expire?
No. Under the 2024 rules, certificates are valid permanently.
Can a producer disagree with the board’s order?
Yes. The rules allow a reply to the board’s order, and further review routes exist. Producers should read the rules or consult a lawyer before contesting a decision.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
