The Mumbai based Censor Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) is looking to move its process of film certification online, according to DNA and BollywoodHungama. Documents (pdf1 and pdf2) found on the CBFC website point to CBFC’s pre-bid meetings on proposals received for the “Selection of Implementing Agency towards the Design, Development and Maintenance for 2nd Phase of Computerization of CBFC”.
Both the reports cite Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister For Information & Broadcasting and Pahlaj Nihalani, censor board chief as saying that online certification is aimed at reducing the interaction between members and producers over scene cuts, reduce delays, instil transparency and curb malpractices.
Takeaways from the clarifications issued by the CBFC:
– The system should support integration with an SMS gateway to send alerts and reminders. The CBFC will bear the cost of setting up and running the SMS gateway. (No clarification on who will bear the cost of SMS reminders.)
– The system should also support a payment gateway integration; the cost of the setup and running will be borne by the CBFC.
– The bidder will be responsible for complete redesign, development, rollout and maintenance of the website and provide necessary hardware and software, including the OS and system software) for hosting the website. CBFC will not provide any hardware or software, so bidders should include this cost on their “BoM” (bill of materials) and final quote.
– Movies less than 70 minutes long need to be uploaded to the CBFC system in MPEG4 format, not the DCP format.
– Movies longer than 70 minutes can be uploaded in DCP format.
– The system should allow the producer to provide a link to the download of movie from where the CBFC can download and examine it.
– The CBFC wants the bidder to propose an industry standard open standards software in the bill of materials (BoM).
– Bidders need to procure source code/database licenses under the name of CBFC.
– The CBFC will make LAN and WAN available at all its locations.
– Bidders need to make sure that that the complete solution will include data backup, data restoration and data synchronisation with site before going live. They will be responsible for maintaining and upkeeping application software, the website hardware and software.
– CBFC regional offices have 2 Mbps MPLS VPN and WAN of 10 Mbps. Bidder is free to suggest higher bandwidth if necessary.
– Bidder needs to provide scanning and digitisation of correspondence related to complaints against films which includes court orders; and police, counsel and departmental correspondence etc.
– Bidder needs to migrate data from the legacy system to the new system.
– The total number of producers/agents registered in the system are around 6,000, while the CBFC staff numbers are unspecified. The system should be able to handle this load.
– CBFC wants the bidders to develop a responsive site, but does not expect them to develop mobile apps.
– The board expects training to all of its applicants (producers and agents) and CBFC officials from the bidders.
– The bidder should have a help desk from 9AM to 5PM on working hours and the CBFC will not provide any space or a toll free number or any equipment for this. This is supposedly a short term request for 6 months.
– Bidders should carry out translation (only in Hindi and English) for the website. The CBFC states that the volume of translation is very low.
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Additionally, the CBFC processes 1,200-1,500 applications monthly across all its offices, and this includes short films, promos/trailers and full length films. It has 6,000 registered external users, while internal users are 60. It processes 15,000-18,000 certification applications (including small films and promos) yearly.
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Also read:
– The Blueberry Hunt’ makers offer legal movie download for Rs 350
– Film board to filmmakers: You shall not upload censored film content online
– Factly’s How is a Film Certified by the Censor Board (CBFC)?
