'Clear Santosh!': Ranchi citizens demand uncut release after open-air screening

By A Representative

Ranchi: A powerful message reverberated from the foothills of Tagore Hill on the evening of 2 May, as over 100 residents of Ranchi — including activists, academics, lawyers, filmmakers, journalists and students — came together to watch the critically acclaimed but censored film Santosh in an open-air screening organized by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha.

Following the screening, an intense and insightful public discussion unfolded, with participants praising Santosh for its bold and honest portrayal of pressing social issues — police brutality, caste discrimination, and institutional islamophobia. Viewers questioned the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)’s decision to withhold release clearance for the film in India, despite its international acclaim.

Reports suggest the CBFC demanded extensive cuts, particularly targeting scenes that depict caste-based violence and police misconduct. The producers' refusal to comply resulted in the film being denied certification. Attendees expressed outrage over this censorship and released an open letter to the CBFC, demanding immediate clearance for the film without cuts.

“It is ironic,” one speaker noted, “that while CBFC routinely clears graphically violent content, including films frequently watched by children, it is unable to accept a restrained yet factual depiction of caste and police realities.”

Speakers also criticized the alleged casteist bias within both the film industry and the certification board. Many noted that Dalit and Adivasi voices remain largely excluded from mainstream cinema — both on and off-screen. Santosh, they said, is a rare film that attempts to challenge this imbalance and deserves to be supported, not stifled.

Participants further accused the CBFC of acting as a political tool of the ruling BJP government. Several expressed concern that films promoting the ideology of the BJP and RSS are passed with ease, while socially conscious cinema faces increasing censorship. The audience condemned what they described as the transformation of the CBFC into an ideological “Censorship” Board.

The screening ended with a united call: “Clear Santosh! Let India watch the truth.”

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