If one has to believe the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman, Pahlaj Nihalani, the film producers will be soon allowed to apply for tatkal certification so that their films are cleared at short notice. “If passport and visa can be made available on tatkal basis, why can't we certify films at a short notice,“ asks Nihalani dramatically. He adds, “We have already started giving certificates for promos on an urgent basis; at times on the same day or at best the next day.“ Reacting to this, producer Mukesh Bhatt says, “It's a welcome move but we only hope that tatkal means tatkal. The time frame should be honoured or else they should refund our money.“

After being embroiled in a series of controversies, it appears that the CBFC is gearing up to be more systematic and efficient. Another step the statutory body plans to take is to go completely digital. While the online system to apply for film certification began about six months back, Nihalani, who took over as the chairman of CBFC in January this year, has decided to act on it fast. “Within three months the entire certification process will be done online. There won't be any need for producers to visit the CBFC office. It will benefit the producers.“

Nihalani said that even today there are producers who are not fully in the loop on the certification process. “They don't come with the proper final product, and they at times manipulate,“ adds the chairman.

Sounding more upfront, CBFC CEO, Dr Shravan Kumar says that the online process will not encourage filmmakers (who try to pull strings) to go directly to the I & B Ministry in Delhi or even try to communicate with officials in Mumbai. Further, hinting at the arrest of former CBFC CEO, Rakesh Kumar in an alleged bribery case, August last, the present CEO says, “With the system going digital there will be full transparency. There will be no interface with the middlemen, which is one of the most reported ills of this organisation. After a producer applies for certification online, he will be intimated about the next stage, which is the examination process and when he has to come and show his film and further interact with the committee. Everything will show online. He will also have the opportunity to track his application from his office/home. This way 99% of the issues will be sorted out,“ says the CEO.