Shahana Goswami's film "Santosh," which garnered international acclaim, is facing hurdles in its release in India due to the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) demand for extensive cuts. The film, directed by Sandhya Suri, was the UK's official entry to the Oscars and has been praised for its bold storytelling and social relevance.
"Santosh" explores the journey of a young widow who joins the police force in North India and is tasked with investigating the murder of a Dalit girl. The film delves into sensitive societal issues such as caste discrimination, police brutality, sexual violence, and Islamophobia.
The CBFC has reportedly requested a long list of cuts to the film, particularly scenes depicting police brutality and those addressing broader societal issues. These demands have led to a deadlock between the filmmaker and the censor board, as the team believes the suggested edits would compromise the essence of the film.
Shahana Goswami expressed her disappointment, stating that the requested changes would alter the film too much, making it unlikely for a theatrical release in India. She also found it disheartening that the film, which had received script-level approval, was now facing such significant hurdles. Sandhya Suri echoed this sentiment, expressing surprise that these issues, which she felt had been raised in Indian cinema before, were causing such roadblocks. She mentioned being willing to legally challenge the decision rather than complying with the board's demands.
The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section and received a BAFTA nomination for Best Debut Feature. Despite the censorship issues in India, "Santosh" is available on the OTT platform MUBI.
The controversy surrounding "Santosh" has ignited discussions about film censorship in India and the challenges faced by filmmakers addressing sensitive social themes. The UK producers of "Santosh", Good Chaos, stated that the CBFC asked the filmmaker to make considerable edits, which the team felt were impossible while retaining the essence of the film. Therefore, there will be no theatrical release for the film in India in the foreseeable future.
