Sun May 04 16:32:57 UTC 2025: ## Censorship Claims Rock India After Film Screening
**Ranchi, Jharkhand –** Over 100 citizens in Ranchi, Jharkhand, participated in an open-air screening of the film “Santosh” on May 2nd, 2025, followed by a discussion condemning the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) refusal to grant the film a release permit. The screening, organized by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM), highlighted the film’s depiction of police brutality, caste discrimination, and institutional Islamophobia.
The JJM accused the CBFC of acting as a political arm of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that films promoting BJP/RSS ideology are readily approved while those critical of societal inequalities face censorship. The CBFC reportedly objected to scenes depicting police brutality and caste discrimination, demanding extensive cuts that the producers refused.
An open letter signed by prominent figures, including economist Jean Drèze, was addressed to CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi, demanding the film’s immediate release without cuts. The letter criticized the CBFC’s double standard, noting the approval of violent films while rejecting “Santosh” for its factual portrayal of police brutality. It also highlighted the CBFC’s alleged casteist bias, citing objections to the use of the word “Dalit” and the underrepresentation of Dalit and Adivasi actors in Indian cinema.
Attendees expressed bafflement at the CBFC’s objections, arguing that the film’s depiction of caste discrimination and untouchability—acknowledged as realities in India even by the government—should not be suppressed. The letter emphasized the importance of confronting these issues, even if uncomfortable, through cinema. The event concluded with a call for wider screenings of “Santosh” across India.
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