TMR 2025

TMR 2025: Can Indian cinema be a chronicler of our times?

Can cinema retain its message under censorship? Has the meaning of censorship itself changed? And can films still comment on social issues, depict historical events, and capture the human experience with honesty?

These were some of the themes discussed during the session, ‘Cinema as a chronicler of our times’, at The Media Rumble 2025, which took place in Bengaluru on October 3 and 4. The panel, moderated by Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, featured filmmakers Honey Trehan, K M Chaitanya, Shazia Iqbal and T J Gnanavel.

Speaking about the cuts her film Dhadak 2 faced from the censor board, Shazia said her job as a writer and director often turns into one of protection – rewriting, re-editing, and rewording scenes to preserve the film’s emotional truth. “But of course,” she admitted, “it’s lost.”

Chaitanya recalled the board’s approach to his film, which featured political references and strong language. “The censor board came and made a compromise,” he said. “They said, ‘We’ll let all the ganda gaalis, but please change these names.’”

Honey pointed to the delays that often plague certification. He said he submitted his film in December 2022 and is still waiting for approval. When Abhinandan asked if he was still hopeful, Honey said, “Yes, I think only me.”

Shazia also drew parallels between recent trends in Indian cinema and propaganda films of the Nazi era. “When was the last time you saw a Muslim hero?...All the Akbars are changing to Amars and nobody knows this.”


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Also Read: We’re sad when extremist outfits censor movies. What about when society censors us?