How to get a censor certificate for your music video in India 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 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: <> b. Duration : <> c. Producer: <> 2. A demand draft of Rs. 1020/- needs to be made payable to the ‘Pay & Account officer ,Ministry of I&B ,’ .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 <> b. Written by : > 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 - <> d. Duration<> 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.. Synopsis 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 ook. Pragnya Wakhlu at 10:41 PM 19 comments: AdithyaDecember 26, 2012 at 7:28 PM Thank you. This did help :) Replies Pragnya WakhluJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:46 AM You're welcome Aditya..Do join my page on Facebook to follow more informative stuff related to music..facebook.com/pragnyawakhlu Cheers! Reply Rahul GandhiFebruary 7, 2013 at 10:43 AM Great information! One question though: If I need to submit it on behalf of someone, then while registration, should I be creating a CBFC ID for myself or for the artist? Any clue? Reply Pragnya WakhluFebruary 17, 2013 at 1:25 AM You can submit on behalf of someone as long as you have all the relevant info.Are you representing the artist as an organisation or as an individual? Reply Pragnya WakhluFebruary 17, 2013 at 1:25 AM You can submit on behalf of someone as long as you have all the relevant info.Are you representing the artist as an organisation or as an individual? Reply UnknownMay 29, 2013 at 9:54 AM I read somewhere that this application process can be done online as well..is that right? Any idea? Reply Replies Pragnya WakhluAugust 6, 2014 at 3:49 AM IF you have read the blog post you'll see that the first few steps are entirely online..however you need to go to the department to submit your cd and printed online applicaiton. Reply cyrilJuly 25, 2013 at 5:04 AM HI, just needed this clarification. If i have someone walk in will all the papers and submit it physically, do I need to go online and generate an ID and do i need to register onine? Reply EmbeeSeptember 14, 2013 at 1:07 AM Thanks a ton.. Very Helpful Reply Pragnya WakhluSeptember 18, 2013 at 10:23 AM To answer your questions: ->You have to create an online ID and submit online..but physical submittion of CD is a must. -> Cyril: You have to first register online..only then can you go in with the papers and they will take your submittion. Reply Sud1p70January 2, 2014 at 11:41 AM Thanks for this share. We have obtained the CBFC certificate for our new music video but are looking to get information on how to submit it to VH1 for airtime, could you please help me with some contacts/information for the same? Reply Replies Pragnya WakhluAugust 6, 2014 at 3:51 AM Submit to MTV Indies.Thats a fairly easy process.MTV and Vh1 are both under Viacom18 so they can help you out. You can contact them on their FB pages. Reply DeepakJanuary 20, 2014 at 11:35 PM Really helpful!!! Reply Aditya SharmaApril 17, 2014 at 5:57 AM Thanks for this share. Reply Shalini VargheseJuly 28, 2014 at 10:20 AM Hello Pragnya, Thanks for your post. Do you have any recommendations for companies that can help with censor certificates, that aren't so expensive? ~Shalini Reply K A U R AJuly 29, 2014 at 2:27 AM thanks a lot dear...it really helped me :) do u know how to register a song on all the telecom providers in India so that anyone can make it as a caller tune ?? Reply Dhaval PatelSeptember 8, 2014 at 11:17 PM Can you tell me what are the details thats to be specified in 100 rs stamp paper? Reply padmanabha joshiOctober 8, 2014 at 11:18 AM Hi Pragnya, Really useful and helpful information for the first timers. Thanks a lot for sharing this. - Padmanabha Joshi Reply af5c299e-e4f7-11e4-a555-274893815242April 17, 2015 at 4:49 AM Hi Pragya, This is really helpful as it gives a step by step process. Do you have any idea how it is obtained for plays/theatre, as I Reply ‹ About Me