Ranchi citizens write to CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi to clear ‘Santosh’ without any cuts

Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha screens film exposing police brutality, caste discrimination, and CBFC censorship, sparking public discussion and outrage.

More than 100 citizens, including activists, academics, lawyers, film-makers, journalists and students, of Ranchi, Jharkhand watched the film Santoshunder the open sky, near Tagore Hill on May 2, 2025.

The public screening was organised by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) and the screening was followed by an enlightening discussion where the viewers appreciated the film for depicting the realities of police brutality, caste discrimination and institutional islamophobia.

The JJM accused that in recent years, there are clear indications of the Board functioning as the political arm of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

“Movies that promote BJP and RSS’ ideology are passed without even a cut while others that show the realities of inequality, injustice and communalism are being censored. The viewers of Santosh screening condemned how the Certification board has become an ideological “Censorship” board,” JJM said.

The citizens also expressed surprise on why the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has denied the permission to release it when the film has been widely acclaimed abroad.

There are reports that the CBFC objected to a number of scenes, mainly pertaining to police brutality and caste discrimination, and wanted extensive cuts. This was not agreeable to the producers, so that permission was denied.

The viewers also issued an open letter to CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi to immediately allow the release of the film without any cuts. The open letter was signed by several renowned personalities including economist Jean Drèze and other members of JJM.