The year 2025 proved to be one of the most turbulent for Hindi cinema in recent memory, not at the box office, but in the corridors of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). A series of high-profile films found themselves entangled in intense battles with the censor board, leading to heavy edits, delayed releases, and widespread debate about creative freedom.
Major Films in the Eye of the Storm
Several anticipated projects became the focal point of Bollywood's censorship controversies in 2025. The remake sequel 'Dhadak 2' reportedly faced significant and heavy cuts from the examining committee. Similarly, the biopic 'Phule', based on the lives of social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, also encountered demands for major alterations before it could receive a certification.
Perhaps the most unusual case was that of the mega-budget sequel 'Empuraan', starring Prithviraj Sukumaran. Shockingly, the film was censored after its initial release, leading to a chaotic situation where already-screened versions had to be pulled and re-edited. Meanwhile, the historical drama 'Panjab ’95', dealing with a sensitive period, was stalled indefinitely, with its clearance process hitting a seemingly permanent roadblock.
The Collision of Politics, Religion, and Narrative
Industry analysts suggest that the common thread running through these 2025 censorship battles was the volatile intersection of political narratives, religious sentiments, and cinematic storytelling. Films tackling historical events, social issues, or political themes were subjected to intense scrutiny. The censor board's decisions often appeared influenced by external pressures from various political and social groups, leading to accusations that the certification process was being used as a tool for content policing beyond its mandate of regulating public exhibition.
This created an environment of uncertainty for filmmakers, where predicting the board's response became increasingly difficult. The post-release censorship of 'Empuraan' set a particularly worrying precedent, undermining the finality of the certification process and causing financial and logistical nightmares for its producers and distributors.
Broader Implications for Creative Freedom
The cumulative effect of these incidents has sparked the loudest debate on creative freedom in Indian cinema in years. Directors and producers are now openly questioning the opaque guidelines and the perceived overreach of the censor board. The stalling of 'Panjab ’95' highlights how films can be effectively banned without an official order, simply by withholding certification.
These controversies have also ignited discussions about the need for a more transparent, consistent, and perhaps modernized certification framework—one that balances reasonable restrictions with the constitutional right to freedom of expression. As these high-profile cases demonstrate, when politics and religion collide with creative vision on screen, the fallout extends beyond the edit table, impacting artistic expression, commercial viability, and the very nature of public discourse in a democratic society.
