NEW DELHI: The number of adult films subject to the Censor Board’s scissors to make them fit for television audiences has steadily increased in the last three years.

While 249 films with ‘adult’ (A) certification were re-examined and given U/A certificate in 2012, the number went up to 276 in 2013 and 284 in 2014. About 1,400 films have been certified by the Censor Board since January this year of which 189 adult films were given U/A certificate.

Since there is a ban on adult content on TV, films must qualify for a U/A certificate to be shown on cable television. U/A certificate means that under-12s require adult supervision as some scenes may be unsuitable for them. Most Bollywood producers vie for a U/A certificate as TV rights constitute a very large source of revenue and they are often agreeable to cut some “objectionable’’ scenes and even mute words in keeping with the recommendations of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

There is nothing in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 or the CBFC guidelines regarding re-certification, yet it is a “facility’’ provided to producers since the early 1990s. In fact, since CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani took charge in January, filmmakers feel the adult certification has been handed out all too easily. Filmmakers have been asked to remove words like lesbian, Bombay, saala, if they wanted a U/A certification.

Nihalani has also written to the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry to spell out the policy. “As of now, it is a practice that has been followed for many years but there are no guidelines for re-certification. I have asked the I&B ministry that clear guidelines should be placed for certification of films for TV,’’ he said.

Certification for TV audiences hit a controversy recently when a CAG report pointed out that the Censor Board had reclassified 172 adult-rated movies as general category films over the past three years without following its own rules.

In response to an RTI plea by Pune-based activist Vihar Durve, the CBFC said 172 films labeled ‘A’ had been re-certified between October 2012 and March 2015 as ‘U/A’ without following set procedure.

Further, another 166 films initially classified ‘U/A’ had been reclassified as ‘U’ for unrestricted viewing, hinting that these films may have been allowed to jump the queue, alleging that their speedy clearance suggests “favouritism” towards select producers.

