When I was trying to get a censor
certificate for my music video, I found that there was nobody( including the channels) who knew the actual
process on how to get a censor certificate.Most people would find an
agent;pay him 5X times the cash that you actually need to pay and get it
done.For a musician that's quite a bit of money.So I went on a mission to get
the censor certificate all by myself; called the Delhi censor board and figured
out the way it's done..Mission accomplished!!:) I now have my censor
certificate and Vh1 is airing my video in August 2012.
I felt this post
would help other musicians/bands who are also trying to get one.It's not all
that tough as it's made out to be..Read on..
 |
| The Censor Certificate for my music video "Rise" |
Watch the Video "Rise" above
Checklist of items you need before you apply for a censor certificate
1.
Create a version of your video with a ‘Time
Code’ & the text ‘Censor Copy’ at the bottom of the video. This is so that
in case there are any cutes the censor board knows at exactly which second the
cuts need to be made. This should be the only video on the CD .The Cd needs to
be labeled as follows:
a.
Song Titled: <<Fill in Song name here e.g. “Infatuation”>>
b.
Duration : <<Write duration in mm:ss e.g. 3 min 59 secs>>
c.
Producer: <<Write artist name here if you
are financing it yourself e.g. Dhiraj Raina>>
2.
A demand draft of Rs. 1020/- needs to be made
payable to the ‘Pay & Account officer ,Ministry of I&B ,<City you
are applying to>’ .The City will change according to the censor office you
are applying to. E.g. If I am applying in Delhi the demand draft would be
payable to ‘Pay & Account officer ,MInistry of I&B ,New Delhi’ .Get 2
photocopies of this demand draft.
3.
Script/Lyrics : 2 copies of the lyrics of the
song exactly in the way the appear in the video.Format of the document should
be :
a.
Title : Script/Lyrics for
<<Songname>>
b.
Written by : <Lyricist name>>
c.
Lyrics of song
4.
Synopsis: 2 copies of the Synopsis for the song
a.
Title: Synopsis
b.
Reason
for Censor Certificate: provide details of which channel needs it
c.
Song details:
·
Name of
Song
·
Language
·
Brief description
of song & Music video
·
Album
·
Artist
·
Director
·
Asst.
Director
·
Agency
·
Director
of Photography(DOP)
·
Second
camera
·
Producer
·
Production
Assist
·
Edited by
5.
Covering Letter addressed to the Regional
Officer(See format in example below)
6.
Undertaking on a Rs.100 stamp paper ,notarized
by the court. The text for the undertaking is provided on a sheet by the Censor
guys.You need to obtain this from their office.The whole notary process
including the stamp paper should cost you about Rs. 300-350 bucks & you can
get it done from any district court or notary guy.
7.
Buy a cardboard File & label it with the
following details:
a.
CBFC ID
b.
Producer Name
c.
Song - <<Songname>>
d.
Duration<<In mm:SS>>
File
your documents in this folder
Great !So you have all your documents with you..Now you’re
ready to apply for your certificate!
Sample Submittion
Script/Lyrics
Lyrics : ‘Rise’
Written by : Pragnya
Wakhlu
You can’t stop my will , a bird in flight..
Riding through the sleepless night,
Guiding my way, a powerhouse of light..
Not outside but within..
Barriers may come, but they will fall..
I won’t break down, I will stand tall..
Not you or anyone can make me feel small..
I live for my dream..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
I see my dream materialize..
Building blocks in front of my eyes..
Steadfast, withstand the wind..
Brave and strong carry on..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
No backing down, no losing hope..
Glorious intent and steely strength..
Pessimists we have no room for you..
Our hearts are living the dream..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
My time has come to rise..
Reason for Censor Certificate: VH1
India would like to screen the music video on the ‘VH1 India Rules’ platform to
promote independent musicians in India. For this they require the music video
to have a censor certificate.
The details
of the Song are as follows:
Name of Song: ‘Rise’
Language: English
Brief description of song & Music video:
The song ‘Rise’ is written to inspire people to rise to their true calling.
The video depicts the pure spirit (in white) and symbols of growth and
prosperity such as rise fields, sunshine and several shots of nature. The song
is intended to motivate and inspire people.
Album:
Journey To the Sun
Artist: Pragnya Wakhlu feat. Sanjay
Joseph
Director: Prateek Sethi
Asst. Director : Shreya Gulati
Agency: Trip Creative Services, Mumbai,Maharashtra
Director of Photography(DOP) : Aashith
Shetty
Second camera : Dhanya Pilo
Producer : Pragnya Wakhlu
Production Assist: Vijay Ubale
Edited by: Prachi S Shirodkar
Covering Letter
To,
The Regional
Officer CBFC ,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
I am
submitting the song titled “Rise” for certification along with the following
documents for certification:
1)Demand Draft
2) Script(Lyrics)
3) Synopsis
4) Undertaking
Kindly certify the film as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Pragnya Wakhlu
Step by Step Process to get a censor certificate
1.
The first thing you have to do is create an ID
for yourself on the CBFC website.
a.
Go to the CBFC Website : http://cbfcindia.gov.in/
b.
Click on ‘Register’
c.
Create a username & password for yourself.You
will receive a CBFC id
d.
You need to call up the censor board office
where you are applying and ask them to activate your ID. If they don’t do it
over the phone you need to go there with the printout of the confirmation page
and ask them to activate it
2.
Once your id is created and has been activated,visit
the CBFC website & log in with your CBFC id & password. You will come
to the Home page
3.
Go to the ‘Application Forms’ tab .Select the
‘Fresh’ option from the drop down on the
Form IA: Application for Certification for
public exhibition of a VIDEO film produced in India. Row & click on the ‘Apply’ button.
4.
You will be taken to Form 1-A where you need to
fill in the details of the short film(See reference application below for
reference)
5.
On the ‘Screening Fee’ Tab select ‘Yes’ for ‘Whether film to be screened
at CBFC.The screening fee takes care of the projector that the CBFC guys hire
to review your music video/film.The charge is Rs. 70/-
6.
On the ‘Certification Fee’ tab select ‘NPE” for
Whether the film is PE/NPE.The certification fee is Rs. 950/-
7.
The Total payable amount shows on the screen
which is Rs. 1020/-.
8.
Go to the ‘No. of DD’s to be added’ dropdown and
select ‘1’.A pop up will open where you need to enter the Demand Draft Details.
9.
At the bottom of the Page Click on ‘List of
Documents’.Select the following:
a.
9/6 Copies of Script/Commentary
b.
9/6 Copies of Synopsis
c.
Rs. 100 Undertaking on stamp paper
10.
Save the document & Submit.
11.
Once you have submitted you need to take a print
out of FORM 1A which you have filled online, & the list of Documents
12.
File all documents in the labeled cardboard
file. Check if all the documents below are present:
a.
Covering letter
b.
Synopsis – 2 copies
c.
Lyrics – 2 copies
d.
Form 1-A
e.
Undertaking on Rs. 100 Stamp paper
f.
Demand Draft
g.
Photocopy of Demand Draft
h.
Censor Copy CD of music video with Time Code
13.
Now that the online submission of the documents
is complete, you need to physically go and submit the documents to the censor
board.
14.
Once this is complete you need to log in &
you can keep checking your certification status from the website & which
stage your certification is in.
15.
Once it reachs the printing & issuance
stage,call the censor board & ask if the certificate is ready to be
collected.
16.
IF cuts are to be made they will ask you to make
cuts & you need to resubmit the video..but if all’s clear you should
receive the certificate within 10 days from the day of submitton!
All the best with your music video ! If you like this post do 'Like' my facebook musicians page www.facebook.com/pragnyawakhlumusic
