The film “Santosh,” submitted for Oscar consideration, will not release in India due to extensive demands for cuts by the CBFC. Directed by Sandhya Suri, it explores sensitive themes such as caste discrimination and police brutality, which led to the board’s intervention. The decision has elicited disappointment from the filmmakers and criticism from industry experts regarding censorship’s impact.
The film “Santosh,” submitted as the UK’s international feature film entry for the Oscars 2025, will not be released in India due to extensive cut demands proposed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite its critical acclaim, the film’s producers have chosen against a theatrical release, as negotiations over the cuts yielded little room for compromise.
Directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, “Santosh” is a Hindi crime drama set in rural north India, exploring the murder of a young girl. The film features notable actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar. Goswami plays a widow who becomes a police constable, while Rajwar portrays a senior inspector. Though the CBFC has not formally banned the film, the suggested cuts made a release untenable.
According to a crew member, the CBFC provided a long list of required modifications at the beginning of the year, which the director attempted to address. However, the lack of negotiation led to the decision to forgo release. The film tackles sensitive issues such as caste discrimination and police brutality, themes that prompted the board’s concerns and subsequent demands for changes without clear justification.
The revisions included altering character names to avoid specific caste representations, fundamentally threatening the film’s integrity. With mounting challenges, including the board’s silence regarding cut reasons, the crew sees no viable options for theatrical or streaming platform releases unless pursued legally. The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and received accolades, including wins for Best Actress and Best New Director at the Asian Film Awards.
Suri expressed her disappointment over the decision, remarking on the unexpected nature of the CBFC’s response to themes common in Indian cinema. She emphasized the importance of a domestic release and lamented the difficulty in modifying the film without losing its core vision. Experts have criticized the CBFC’s demands, arguing that a nuanced portrayal like “Santosh” deserves a chance for public viewing in light of advancements in technology that prevent curtailing access entirely.
In summary, the decision to withdraw “Santosh” from the Indian theatrical release due to CBFC’s extensive cut demands underscores the ongoing challenges filmmakers face regarding censorship. Despite critical acclaim and recognition on international platforms, the film’s themes led to significant hurdles in obtaining release clearance. The situation raises pertinent questions about artistic freedom and the implications of censorship in contemporary cinema.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
