Let Me Explain: CBFC or censorship bureau? Who’s deciding what India can watch

This is a protest outside the CBFC office in Thiruvananthapuram.

Filmmakers, actors, and technicians from the Malayalam film industry standing together, calling out what they see as growing censorship in Indian cinema.

At the centre is Janaki vs State of Kerala, a film about a woman who survives assault.

The CBFC halted its release, insisting the character’s name be changed. Why? Because Janaki is another name for the Hindu goddess Sita — and according to the board, a survivor shouldn’t carry a divine name.

Ironically, union minister Suresh Gopi is part of the film’s cast, but even that didn’t help the movie’s case 

And Janaki isn’t alone.

Punjab 95, starring Diljit Dosanjh, has been in limbo for over two and a half years 

Tamil movie Nasir, Hindi movie Santhosh have not released 

The CBFC may call itself a certification board. But in reality, it plays the role of censor.

Films are trimmed, tweaked, or stalled until they neatly fit within political, cultural, and moral lines.

Stories about caste, religion, state violence, you know the uncomfortable truths, are being quietly delayed, sliced up, or buried altogether.

In this episode we look at how chilling the atmosphere has become that other than censorship there is also self censorship.

Watch.