Fri Sep 12 05:23:24 UTC 2025: **The Hindu News Article:**
**Controversial Hindi Film “Masoom Kaatil” Banned by Delhi High Court for Extreme Violence and Communal Tone**
**New Delhi, September 12, 2025:** The Delhi High Court has upheld a decision by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to ban the Hindi film “Masoom Kaatil,” deeming it unfit for public viewing due to its excessively violent content, communal undertones, and glorification of vigilantism.
The film, produced by an unnamed filmmaker, was initially rejected by the CBFC in 2022, a decision which the producer challenged. The court, however, sided with the CBFC, agreeing that the film’s portrayal of violence was gruesome, unnecessarily brutal, and lacking any redeeming value.
According to authorities, “Masoom Kaatil” depicts two teenagers who embark on a mission to eradicate members of the butcher community, driven by a belief that meat consumption is inherently wrong. The film reportedly includes scenes of extreme violence, including individuals being forced to consume human excreta and flesh, bordering on cannibalism.
The plot centers around Anirudh, a young man raised in a strict vegetarian household, who develops a deep aversion to animal slaughter following the death of his grandfather. Influenced by religious texts, Anirudh comes to believe that slaughtered animals could be reincarnations of loved ones. He uses his knowledge of science to create a chemical to eliminate butchers.
He then partners with Vedika, a classmate who shares his hatred for butchers and takes their killings to calculated new levels, coming up with ways to dispose of the bodies so that they cannot be traced. Vedika’s is eventually portrayed as the primary force behind the killings, driven by a desire to wipe out butchers and poultry farm owners across the country.
The CBFC stated that the film “criminalizes meat selling and consuming,” and depicts the protagonists on a mission to annihilate anyone involved in the meat industry. The board also emphasized the graphic and detailed portrayal of violence against the butcher community, including acts of cannibalism.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, in his judgment, noted that even the film’s trailer contained “gore violence” and that the film’s message could “damage people’s trust in the legal system.” He further stated that the film’s combination of dangerous ideas and graphic violence could “seriously upset public peace and encourage others to act violently, putting the safety of society at risk.”
The decision effectively prevents “Masoom Kaatil” from being screened in theaters or released on streaming platforms in India. This case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding censorship and freedom of expression in the Indian film industry.
First Piper 