CBFC Board Dives Into Gen AI Research at IIT Bombay
The newly reconstituted CBFC board, including Pankaj Tripathi, visited IIT Bombay to experience cutting-edge Generative AI and immersive tech.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has stepped into the future of technology. In a landmark 150th board meeting, the newly reconstituted board, led by Chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati, visited the Research Park of IIT Bombay to get a first-hand look at Gen AI research and other immersive technologies that are poised to reshape the creative landscape.
A High-Profile Gathering of Arts and Tech
The meeting was not just a bureaucratic gathering but a confluence of India's most celebrated artistic minds and top-tier technologists. Attending the session in person were renowned actors Pankaj Tripathi and Roopali Ganguly, alongside filmmaker Priyadarshan, actor Nishigandha Wad, producer Supriya Yarlagadda, poet Yatindra Mishra, filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda, and theatre personality Waman Kendre.
Adding to the diversity of the discussion, actors Prosenjit Chatterjee and Manoj Joshi, as well as filmmaker Abhishek Jain, participated via video conferencing. Former CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi also joined the session virtually to share his insights and experiences with the fresh panel of members.
Exploring the Frontiers of AI and VR
The choice of venue—IIT Bombay—was strategic. Chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the board's exposure to the cutting-edge developments happening at IDC IIT Bombay and BharatGen.
According to the Chairperson, the board members experienced firsthand the research being conducted in:
- Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI): Exploring how AI can create content and its implications for the industry.
- Virtual Reality (VR): Understanding the shift toward immersive storytelling.
- Immersive Technologies: Investigating new ways of experiencing visual and auditory media.
“CBFC Board Members got a first hand experience of cutting edge research in Generative AI, Virtual Reality and other immersive technologies being experimented and developed at IDC IIT Bombay and @BharatGen_Com,” wrote Shashi Shekhar Vempati.
A New Era for the CBFC
This meeting marks a significant turning point for the certification body. After a gap of more than six years, the Centre reconstituted the CBFC in September with an 18-member panel. The new board is designed to be a multidisciplinary powerhouse, bringing together experts from cinema, television, music, writing, and theatre.
The star-studded panel includes prominent figures such as:
- Actors: Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Pallavi Joshi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Pankaj Tripathi, and Roopali Ganguly.
- Musicians and Singers: Ricky Kej and Hansraj Hans.
- Filmmakers: Priyadarshan and others from the arts industry.
The 150th meeting served as the first official interaction for this newly appointed board, fostering active dialogue between the members and Team CBFC representatives from various regional offices across the country.