Bhubaneswar, Sept. 17 (UDN): Acclaimed filmmaker and Padma Shri awardee Nila Madhab Panda from Odisha has been appointed as a member of the reconstituted Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), giving the state representation on India’s statutory film certification body.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the notification on Tuesday, reconstituting the 18-member CBFC board under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. The newly appointed members will serve a three-year term or until further orders.
Odisha’s lone representative
Panda is the only member from Odisha on the newly formed board. His appointment is being viewed as recognition of his longstanding contribution to Indian cinema, particularly his work highlighting social and environmental issues through films rooted in Odisha’s realities.
A native of Dasharajpur village in Sonepur district, Panda has built a distinguished career making films that explore themes such as climate change, water conservation, sanitation, child rights and rural livelihoods. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2016 for his contribution to the arts.
Award-winning filmmaker
Panda’s acclaimed film I Am Kalam received a National Film Award and earned widespread international recognition. Jalpari gained attention at the Cannes Film Festival, while Kadvi Hawa received a Special Mention at the National Film Awards. His Odia feature Kalira Atita won the National Film Award for Best Odia Feature Film.
Star-studded board
The reconstituted CBFC includes actors Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Pankaj Tripathi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Manoj Joshi, Roopali Ganguly, Pallavi Joshi and Nishigandha Wad. The panel also features filmmaker Priyadarshan, director Abhishek Jain, Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej, producer Supriya Yarlagadda, singer Hansraj Hans, writer Yatindra Mishra, theatre personality Waman Kendre, along with Vinod Anupam and Ramesh Patange.
CBFC Chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati welcomed the newly appointed members after the board’s reconstitution.
Key role in film certification
The CBFC functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and is responsible for granting age-based certification for films intended for theatrical release across India.
For Odisha’s film fraternity, Panda’s inclusion is seen as an important milestone, as the board plays a crucial role in the certification process that determines how films from different language industries, including Odia cinema, reach audiences nationwide.