UK Oscar Entry “Santosh” Not Releasing in India Due to Censorship Issues
The film “Santosh,” set to represent the UK at the Oscars 2025, will not release in India due to extensive cut demands by the CBFC. Directed by Sandhya Suri, the film tackles sensitive issues and has received critical accolades but faced censorship issues that led to its withdrawal from Indian theaters.
The film “Santosh,” representing the UK for the Oscars 2025, will not be released in India due to excessive cuts demanded by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Directed by Sandhya Suri, this Hindi film garnered critical acclaim and multiple awards, but the extensive alterations sought by the CBFC led producers to cancel its theatrical debut in India.
Set in rural north India, “Santosh” is a crime drama exploring the murder of a young girl. The film stars Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, with Goswami portraying a widow turned police constable and Rajwar as a senior police inspector. Although the CBFC has not outright banned the film, they imposed significant cuts that altered the film’s essence.
Crew members revealed that the CBFC provided a demanding list of cuts early in the year, which Suri attempted to negotiate but ultimately found unacceptable. These included renaming characters to avoid certain caste representations, which the filmmakers felt would compromise the film’s integrity. “What made it especially hard is that the board officials did not give any reason for each of the cuts,” a crew member stated, indicating no opportunity for discussion.
The film touches upon sensitive themes like caste discrimination, sexual violence, and police brutality, which roused concerns at the CBFC. Consequently, the filmmakers face the unfortunate situation of no theatrical release and the potential for limited OTT platform availability.
“Santosh” premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and received nominations at the BAFTAs. Goswami and Suri collected awards for best actress and best new director at the Asian Film Awards, respectively. Commenting on this decision, Suri expressed her disappointment, noting that these issues have previously been part of Indian cinema.
Experts have criticized the CBFC’s request for cuts, labeling it a regrettable decision that reflects a lack of tolerance for humanitarian narratives. Film theorist Amrit Gangar highlighted that limiting viewership in this age is ineffective, as public access to films can be facilitated through various platforms, suggesting that releasing the film could enhance humanitarian understanding and generate revenue for its creators.
The decision to withhold the release of “Santosh” in India due to unnecessary cuts by CBFC raises questions about censorship and the portrayal of sensitive issues in cinema. Despite its critical success and accolades, the filmmakers must now weigh the option of legal action against the board’s decisions. The opacity of CBFC’s motives particularly concerning such significant social themes poses challenges for filmmakers in India. Overall, this situation emphasizes the ongoing tension between regulation and artistic freedom in Indian cinema.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
