CBFC Finally Grants U Certificate to Batt Koch, a Historic Win for Regional Filmmakers
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In a significant breakthrough, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has awarded the U Certificate to Batt Koch, a Kashmiri film directed by Siddarth Koul. This milestone comes after a four-month-long struggle by the filmmakers, who had to navigate the complexities of the CBFC's e-CinePramaan portal. The film, which tells the story of a Kashmiri Pandit family, was initially hindered by the lack of Kashmiri as a selectable option on the portal. The turning point came when Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw intervened, directing the CBFC administration to add Kashmiri and all 22 languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution to the portal. This historic correction has made the portal more inclusive of India's linguistic diversity, benefiting regional filmmakers across the country. Batt Koch, which has been making waves at international film festivals, is set for a theatrical release. The filmmakers aim to share the culturally rooted and family-oriented story with audiences in a cinema hall, followed by a selective move to an OTT platform that genuinely supports regional cinema. The film's authenticity and cultural soul will remain intact as it reaches a national and global audience.
