The critically acclaimed film Santosh, directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, has been denied release in India by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite its global recognition, including a BAFTA nomination and a Cannes premiere, the film has been blocked due to its depiction of police brutality, caste discrimination, misogyny, and Islamophobia in the Indian police force. The censorship board demanded extensive cuts, which the filmmakers found impossible to implement without compromising the film’s message.
What Is Santosh About?
The film follows Santosh, a young widow (played by Shahana Goswami) who steps into her late husband’s role as a police constable in a rural town. This isn’t a job she wanted—it’s one she inherited through a government scheme. She soon gets involved in the investigation of a brutal murder of a low-caste girl, working alongside the tough and seasoned Inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar).
Unlike typical Bollywood cop dramas filled with stylized action and heroic moments, Santosh is raw, unfiltered, and deeply unsettling. It exposes the power struggles, bias, and corruption within the system. As Santosh gets pulled deeper into the case, she must confront the ugly truths of the institution she’s now a part of.
Shot in and around Lucknow over 45 days in 2023, the film doesn’t sugarcoat reality. It lays bare deep-rooted issues like gender inequality, caste oppression, and systemic violence, making it a powerful and thought-provoking watch.
Global Recognition & Awards
While Santosh has been blocked in India, it has been widely celebrated worldwide. The film:
- Premiered at Cannes 2024 in the Un Certain Regard section
- Won Best Actress (Shahana Goswami) at the Asian Film Awards
- Was named one of the top five international films of 2024 by the National Board of Review
- Received a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding Debut by a British Filmmaker
- Was the UK’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards and even made it to the Oscar shortlist.
It’s a huge achievement for a Hindi-language film with Indian roots to gain such global recognition. But while the world embraced it, India shut its doors on it.
Why Was Santosh Blocked in India?
The CBFC refused certification, effectively banning the film from Indian theaters. Their main issue? The film’s harsh portrayal of the police force, which they believed could damage its reputation.
The board demanded extensive edits, including removing scenes that highlight:
- Police brutality (beating suspects)
- Caste discrimination (mistreatment of Dalits)
- Islamophobia (bias against Muslims in law enforcement)
- Misogyny (women being treated unfairly in the system)
Director Sandhya Suri called the censorship “heartbreaking”, saying the required changes would destroy the essence of the story. Despite her attempts to negotiate, the demands were so extreme that the film would have lost its core message.
Shahana Goswami also expressed disappointment, saying it was sad that a film about real issues in India can’t be shown here, especially when it has been widely appreciated at festivals, even in India.
Is the Censorship Justified?
This isn’t the first Indian film to address police corruption, caste issues, or systemic oppression. Movies like Article 15 and Jai Bhim tackled similar themes and were released without major censorship. However, Santosh is different—it doesn’t just tell a hero vs. villain story. It’s nuanced, dark, and painfully real.
The CBFC’s job is to maintain “social harmony”, and they might argue that such films can spark controversy. But by blocking it, they are denying the audience the right to decide for themselves.
What’s Next for Santosh?
For now, the film remains unavailable in India. Sandhya Suri is considering legal action, but taking on the censorship board in court is expensive and time-consuming.
Outside India, however, the film is available on streaming platforms like MUBI, allowing international audiences to experience it.
For Indians who want to watch it, a VPN might be the only way to access the film—an ironic twist for a movie that was made to reflect India’s realities but can’t be seen by its own people.
Final Thoughts
Santosh is a film that holds up a mirror to society, asking difficult questions about justice, power, and oppression. Its global success proves that these stories need to be told. But in India, instead of sparking conversation, it has been silenced.
So, the real question is—what are we so afraid of facing?
