The British Board of Film Classification, which has cleared Padmavati for release in the United Kingdom with a 12A rating, “does not take into account lobbying of any kind during the classification process,”

“The BBFC makes all classification decisions in line with its published Classification Guidelines only,” a spokesperson for the BBFC told this paper on Thursday.

“As an organisation the BBFC fulfils its role by providing age classifications and publishing advice (BBFCinsight) for individual films and videos. We do this without infringing the right of adults to choose what they view provided that it remains within UK law and is not potentially harmful.

We seek to ensure that films and videos reach the widest audience that is appropriate for their theme and treatment,” the spokesperson added.

Classification decisions are made in line with available research and the classification guidelines, which were the result of an “extensive public consultation process,” and were most recently updated in 2014. Earlier this month, the BBFC gave the go-ahead for Padmavati to be released, uncut, in the UK on December 1. While the film won’t be released on this date, after the producers delayed the release, Rajput groups in the UK initially pledged protests.

This week the BBFC published further details of its analysis of the film, for BBFC Insight, an online programme to help potential audiences, and particularly parents, assess the suitability of films.

Mild to moderate The BBFC Insight on Padmavati notes “frequent scenes of moderate violence, “occasional injury” “mild sex references” and “very mild bad language.”

Dating back to the early 20th century, the BBFC is the regulator responsible for classifying and certifying films for release in the UK, both in cinemas and on television as well as in other formats such as DVD and video.

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