Filmmaker Mani Ratnam said on Saturday that the Central Board of Film Certification is "not as independent as desired" and is often used by the political party in power to further its agenda. Addressing an audience at the eighth edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival, he said this leads to “extra-Constitutional authorities dictating terms”.

Ratnam welcomed the Centre's decision to set up a panel headed by renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal to revamp the censor board. When questioned about censorship in the Indian society, Ratnam said people often underestimate the “dynamic” audience’s intelligence. He added that the audience expects something more as it is “exposed to a wonderful visual world of late”.