"I didn’t feel that these issues were particularly new"
Santosh has received critical acclaim but its release in India has been blocked over its portrayal of misogyny, Islamophobia, and violence in the Indian police force.
The film, written and directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, is set in North India.
It follows a young widow who joins the police force and investigates the murder of a Dalit girl.
Santosh has received international praise for its unflinching depiction of police misconduct, discrimination against Dalits, and the normalisation of mistreatment by officers.
The film also explores sexual violence, particularly against lower-caste women, and rising anti-Muslim prejudice in India.
Santosh debuted at the Cannes Film Festival to widespread acclaim.
It was the UK’s official entry for the Oscars’ international feature category and was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Debut Feature.
Lead actress Shahana Goswami won Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards.
The film was shot in India, features an all-Indian cast, and is entirely in Hindi.
India’s largest cinema chain had agreed to distribute it in January 2025.
However, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refused to certify the film, citing concerns about its negative portrayal of the police.
This decision means Indian audiences are unlikely to see it in cinemas.
Sandhya described the ruling as “disappointing and heartbreaking”.
She said: “It was surprising for all of us because I didn’t feel that these issues were particularly new to Indian cinema or hadn’t been raised before by other films.”
According to Sandhya, the CBFC demanded extensive cuts that were “impossible” to implement.
She said the list spanned several pages, targeting themes central to the film’s narrative.
Sandhya continued: “It was very important to me that the film is released in India, so I did try to figure out if there was a way to make it work.
“But in the end, it was just too difficult to make those cuts and have a film that still made sense, let alone stayed true to its vision.”
Sandhya defended the film’s portrayal of police violence:
“I don’t feel my film glorifies violence in a way that many other films focusing on the police have done. There’s nothing sensationalist about it.”
The censorship decision comes amid increased restrictions on India’s cultural sector.
Films and TV series addressing politically sensitive themes often face hate campaigns, police cases, or removal from streaming platforms.
Sandhya admitted she had been “nervous” about releasing the film in India but stressed that it was “vitally important” for affected communities to see it.
She cited the 2012 Delhi gang rape case as her inspiration and worked with Indian NGOs to shape the story.
Police violence and torture are well-documented in India.
A 2020 Human Rights Watch report found that officers routinely use torture and flout arrest procedures with little accountability.
While Indian cinema has depicted police brutality before, Sandhya suggested the realism in Santosh may have unsettled censors.
She said: “Maybe there’s something about this film which is troubling in that everybody is morally compromised and there is no single hero.
“I think that’s what might set it apart from other stories in Indian cinema which often show a maverick cop in a rotten system.”
There is no appeals process with the CBFC once a decision is made. The only recourse is through the courts.
However, Sandhya remains determined to make the film accessible to Indian audiences.
She added: “All my work has been about India; one film was deeply nostalgic, another was super beautiful and sensual.
“Yes, this one shows another face of the country. But there’s humanity in everybody in this film.”
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