This is a list of films that have been or are banned in India. This list includes titles that were refused a rating by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially or permanently. The list also includes films whose release or production was or are blocked by the central or a state government, or by a legal institution. Also included are films that faced a virtual ban, after theatre owners were compelled to stop screening by non-government groups.
It was banned for two months for overt controversies of sexual harassment overtones; it showed the troubles faced by an immigrant Chinese wage laborer in 1930s Calcutta.[2]
A political spoof, the film was banned by the Congress government for lampooning the Emergency.[6] The master prints and all copies was lifted from the Censor Board office and burned by Sanjay Gandhi supporters.[7] The movie was later remade with a different cast.
The film was banned after Sikkim's merger in India in 1975, as it showed the Chogyal-ruled Sikkim as a sovereign state. The ban was lifted in September 2010.[8]
It was banned temporarily for its "negative" depiction of Indians because of a scene, set in India, where characters are served monkey brains. Monkeys are seen as sacred animals in Hinduism. The ban was later rescinded.[11]
1987
Pati Parmeshwar
It was denied a rating by the Censor for depicting a woman in "ignoble servility" of her husband. Later, the Bombay High Court allowed its release.[12][13]
On its opening day in India, some film theatres were attacked by Hindu fundamentalists for depicting a lesbian relationship.[17] The film was withdrawn and sent back to the Censor Board.[18] Later it was released uncut.[19]
The documentary film was banned by the Censor Board for being provocative and under concerns that it may trigger communal violence.[23] It was based on the 2002 Gujarat violence. But, it was cleared after some months.[24]
The movie was based on the 1993 Bombay bombings. The release was blocked until the verdict of the lawsuit by the Bombay High Court on the petition of the under-trials.[26] The film was originally set to be released in India on 28 January 2005.[27] The producers appealed in the Supreme Court but the High Court order was upheld. The movie finally saw its release on 9 February 2007.[28]
This movie, based on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, was initially denied a rating. The film was later given an adult rating after some audio-cuts.[29][30][31]
The movie faced opposition during its shooting from hardline Hindu organizations in Varanasi. The sets were destroyed.[32] The Uttar Pradesh government decided to stop the shooting on 31 January 2000.[33] The shooting was shifted to Sri Lanka later. The movie was released in India much later, in March 2007.
2009
Had Anhad
The Central Board of Film Certification refused a certificate to this Shabnam Virmani documentary without cuts. In 2011, Delhi High Court allowed the film to be released uncut and asked the Union of India to pay ₹10,000 to the petitioner as legal fees.[34]
It was banned for its scenes of rape and torture. The Central Board of Film Certification demanded that these scenes be cut, which the director David Fincher refused to do.[36]
This film was banned by Rajasthan Government after the Intelligence Bureau (Rajasthan Government) watched this movie in Laxmi Talkies, Jaipur, on the day of its release on 17 October 2014. This film was based on Gurjar agitation in Rajasthan in 2008 by the Gurjar Leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla. Many newspapers and media reported this ban on 17 and 18 October 2014.
The Sri Lankan Civil War documentary was not allowed for public screening by the Censor Board because it depicted the war crimes covered up by the Government of Sri Lanka and showed the real sufferings of Tamils whom Indian Government felt resentful for. Director Callum Macrae decided to release the film on the internet to circumvent the ban.[39]
The film was banned by the central government after the Intelligence Bureau had warned that the film may cause communal tensions. The film glorified the assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.[40]
Notable south Indian actor Rajinikanth moved the Madras High Court to stop the release of this film stating that it violated his personality rights. A stay was granted, and the makers of the movie were directed to not use the superstar's name, image or likeness.[42] The director Faisal Saif later said he had shown the film to the actor and his lawyers to assure them. The film's title was later changed to Main Hoon (Part-Time) Killer.[43]
The film was denied a rating by the Censor Board. The film examined same sex relationships and religious fundamentalism in India. The director Raj Amit Kumar was told by the Board that film will cause clashes between Hindus and Muslims, and will provoke "unnatural passions".[44][45] The film's streaming was later allowed through Netflix in India.[46]
This television documentary about the 2012 Delhi gang rape was prevented from being broadcast by a stay order from a court,[47] due to perceived negative public sentiment[48][49] including remarks defending the rape[49][50] which drew public outcry in India when the film was shown.[51] The movie was uploaded to YouTube and the Indian government requested it be removed.[52]
2015
Patta Patta Singhan Da Vairi
The movie was initially denied clearance by CBFC, but was later cleared by the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).[53]
The movie is about the real life of Isaipriya, a television journalist raped and murdered by members of the Sri Lankan Army during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War. It was denied clearance by CBFC as it would damage India-Sri Lanka relations.[54][55]
The film was cleared by the CBFC but banned by the Minister of Home Affairs. The film is based on the lives of the assassins of General Arun Shridhar Vaidya. The makers of the film decided to release it overseas.[56]
The film, based on the aftermath of the Sri Lankan Civil War, was in banned in India by the CBFC as it would damage Indo-Sri Lanka relations though the film was screened in Sri Lanka itself. The ban was later lifted by the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. However, the filmmaker had to morph the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam flags, cut out photographs of its slain leaders and state that the film was a work of fiction inspired by real events.[58][59]
The CBFC denied a rating to the film. The film deals with the commercialisation of the pilgrimage city Varanasi.[60] On 11 December 2017, Delhi High Court allowed the release of the film with one cut and adult certification, setting aside the order of CBFC.[61]
The film, based on the Sri Lankan Civil War and the rise of the Tamil Groups including the LTTE, ran into trouble with the CBFC with the board refusing to certify the movie as it would damage India-Sri Lanka relationship.[64]
This short film on human rights abuses in Kashmir was blocked for viewership in India on YouTube by the Government of India through a notice from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).[66][67] No reason was cited in this Ministry notice for the censorship.[68] The film is available to watch on YouTube using a VPN in India and without a VPN outside India.[69]
This BBC documentary examining the role of the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in the Gujarat riots of 2002 was blocked by the Government of India.[70]
2011 – Aarakshan: It was banned on 11 August 2011 due to concerns that it may hurt weaker sections of the society.[76] On 14 August 2011, the ban was revoked.[77]
2005 – Tango Charlie: The film was allegedly poorly researched and defamed the Bodo community.[82]
2023 – Sri Raghupati: The film was banned on 1 June 2023, a day before the release date, over allegations of breach of contract with former producer Suruj Sarma.[83] The ban was lifted on 5 June 2023.[84]
2006 – Fanaa: It faced an unofficial ban due to the role of Aamir Khan, the lead actor, in the Narmada Bachao Andolan.[90] Supreme Court of India directed that theatres wanting to screen the film should be provided police protection. But, most theatre owners decided not to screen it.[91]
2007 – Parzania: Parzania faced an unofficial ban after Bajrang Dal coaxed theatre owners to stop screening the film. Bajrang Dal activist Babu Bajrangi, who was later incarcerated for murder, conspiracy and spreading hatred in Naroda Patiya massacre of Gujarat riots, had the opinion that it may disrupt communal harmony in the state.[92]
2009 – Firaaq: Firaaq was allegedly not released by many theatres due to political pressure because it depicted the 2002 Gujarat riots. But, theatre owners cited a revenue sharing dispute.[93][94]
2012 – Pithavinum Puthranum: The film, originally completed in 2012, is awaiting approval from the Censor Board as of January 2015.[97] The film is reportedly based on a book by Sister Jesme and the Sister Abhaya murder case.[98]
2013 – Papilio Buddha: The Film was banned in India for its scenes of violence, and for its scathing critique of Gandhi's legacy. It is set among a community of Dalits, regarded as 'untouchables' in India, where they face caste oppression, discrimination and displacement.[99]
2015 – Chayam Poosiya Veedu: The film was not given a certificate since there is a nude scene in it.[100]
Madhya Pradesh
2008 – Jodhaa Akbar: The film was banned after protests from the Rajput community over Jodha Bai's depiction as Akbar's wife.[101] The Supreme Court later lifted the ban.[102]
2008 – Deshdrohi: The film was banned in November fearing breakdown of law and order in the state. The film depicted the attacks against North Indians in the state.[105] The ban was lifted in January 2009 by the Bombay High Court.[106]
Nagaland
2006 – The Da Vinci Code: It was banned for portraying Jesus Christ and Christians in an 'objectionable' manner.[107]
2011 – Aarakshan: On 11 August 2011, the film about honor killings in India was banned for hurting the feelings of the weaker sections of the society.[109] But the ban was lifted on 14 August 2011 after a preview screening.[110]
2013 – Oh My Pyo Ji: The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the release of the film on the request of a producer; the request stemmed from a dispute between the two producers of the film.[citation needed]
2015 – Blood Street: The film depicts the religion-based (Hindu-Sikh) riots that took place in Punjab. It also highlights the brutality of the Punjab Police at the time. It was scheduled to release in 2014 but was banned by the CBFC. The release of the movie was allowed in the following year but only after the "problematic" parts were cut.
2017– Kharkuwaad - Portrays police brutality during the insurgency in Punjab, depicted the clashes that took place between the Sikh community and the Punjab Police at that time.
2017 – Bhagat Singh Di Udeek - The title translates to “The wait of Bhagat Singh”, it describes how a common man falls prey to the atrocities of the system and is forced to fight the system single-handedly. It was initially delayed due to some technical errors and also faced rejection by the CBFC.
2019 – Dastaan E Miri Piri : The film was banned in theatres for showing an animation of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind. It was released on YouTube with many cuts and only portrayed a shadow of the fifth and sixth Sikh gurus.
2020 – Shooter:- The film was banned because it was a biography of gangster Sukha Kahlwan.[123]
2021 – Shudra to Khalsa :- The film was banned in apprehension of rising tensions between caste groups.
Rajasthan
2008 – Jodhaa Akbar: The film was not released after theatre owners received letters written in blood from Karni Sena.[124][125]
2017 – Padmaavat: Following controversies and threats of violence made by Rajput caste organization Shri Rajput Karni Sena.[95]
2006 – The Da Vinci Code: It was banned after concerns that it may hurt religious sentiments.[127] Later, Madras High Court allowed its screening.[128]
2013 – Vishwaroopam: The film was banned after objections were expressed by Muslim groups regarding the portrayal of the Muslim community in a bad light.[130][131] The movie was later released after seven scenes were cut.[132]
Uttar Pradesh
2007 – Aaja Nachle: The movie was banned because the lyrics of the title song was allegedly humiliating the Dalits. The lyrics were later changed.[133] The ban was lifted later after the producers apologized.[134]
2008 – Jodhaa Akbar: The film was banned fearing breach of peace after protests from a Rajput group.[135][136] The Supreme Court later lifted the ban.[102]
2011 – Aarakshan: It had been banned due to objectionable dialogues.[137] Later, Supreme Court lifted the ban.[138] The film was based on the topic of reservations in jobs and education.
West Bengal
1992 – City of Joy: The film's shooting was banned in Calcutta for a while due to negative portrayal of the city.[139]
2013 – Kangal Malsat: In February 2013, a revising committee of the CBFC refused to pass the film citing excessive use of abusive language, sexuality and frivolous approach in portraying of social movements. The film was cleared later by the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal after some edits.[140][141][142]
^Phillips, Gene (2006). Beyond the Epic: The Life and Films of David Lean. Lexington, Kentucky: University of Kentucky Press. p. 217. ISBN978-0-813-17155-5.
^Chauhan, R. s (30 March 2017). "Clamping down on creativity". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2017 – via www.thehindu.com.
^Das, Mohua (25 February 2013). "Censors cite Stalin & CM!". The Telegraph Calcutta. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
