Oscar Contender ‘Santosh’s’ India Release Delayed After Censorship Snag (EXCLUSIVE)

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The screening of “Santosh” in Indian theaters has been postponed unexpectedly, as there’s a hold-up at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India. This film made it to the shortlist for the Oscars‘ international feature category.

The movie, helmed by director Sandhya Suri and initially presented as the U.K.’s contender for the Academy Awards’ international feature category, was purchased by PVR Inox Pictures in December.

Right now, in cinemas across Los Angeles, the film unfolds the story of Santosh, a widow who unexpectedly assumes her late husband’s role as a rural north Indian police constable following his death. The plot revolves around Santosh’s collaboration with a progressive police inspector named Sharma to unravel the mystery behind the murder of a young girl from an underprivileged caste group in their community.

Initially, I was all set to unveil my critique on a movie slated for release on January 10th. However, the unexpected happened – the film’s launch was halted due to its inability to secure certification clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite having secured script approval and production incentives from the Indian government, we find ourselves awaiting specific feedback about the CBFC’s apprehensions. As a critic, I can only wait with bated breath for this film’s journey to continue.

As your friendly neighborhood movie critic, I attempted to seek the perspective of the CBFC chairman and CEO regarding a recent film screening. However, after 24 hours, my inquiry had yet to receive a response before the deadline for publishing this review.

This film is jointly produced by the British Film Institute (BFI) and BBC Film from the U.K., along with ZDF from Germany and Arte from France. It is also associated with Haut et Court Distribution in France, and receives support from France’s Aide aux Cinémas du Monde-CNC-Institut Français. The production companies include Good Chaos from the U.K., Suitable Pictures in India, Razor Film in Germany, and Haut et Court in France. Mike Goodridge, James Bowsher, Balthazar de Ganay, and Alan McAlex are the producers of this film.

Goodridge, a producer for Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning film “Triangle of Sadness,” shared with EbMaster that they were thrilled about the movie’s release in India on January 10 and remain optimistic about a future screening. Given that the script had already been given the green light by Indian authorities, they didn’t anticipate any significant holdups in the process.

Titled “Santosh,” this film, based in a fictional northern Indian state, follows a structure similar to a police procedural but also incorporates deeply rooted caste and religious politics. Before the film’s premiere at Cannes last year, director Suri stated that he does not create films for explicit messaging, but rather to portray environments where such issues are prevalent. He explained, “There are places where intolerance, casteism, prejudice, and misogyny linger heavily in the air. I was intrigued to examine Santosh’s character, considering she might have ruled her own kingdom within her household. The story I wanted to delve into was the subtle nature of these issues and how they could seep into her life, as well as how she might be influenced by these forces.

Suri has gained recognition through her documentaries such as “I for India” (2005), which premiered at Sundance, along with “Around India with a Movie Camera” (2018) and the Toronto-winning, BAFTA-nominated short fiction film “The Field” (2018).

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2025-01-16 15:58