Most Influential Films Banned in India
written by Souranath Banerjee
In India it is not always enough to make good Cinema; the more challenging part for the directors and producers is to make sure that their movie gets released on big screen!
This year only, the producers of Udta Punjab (a film based on drug 
abuse in Punjab) had the most highlighted and controversial court fight with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) headed by Pahlaj Nihalani. Finally Anurag Kashyap (representing the Phantom productions) did win the legal battle and the film was cleared with only a single cut.
But movies being banned is nothing new in India. Due to reasons that may be political or social, it can be for abusive language, use of narcotics or due to explicit sexual content, numerous films have been delayed and some unfortunately have never seen the light of a movie theatre yet!
Here is a list of some of the most influential films Banned in India. Do watch them to know the importance of these films and the real reasons for them being out of reach of their audience.
10. Sikkim (1971)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmSeVvA61xU
Directed by legendary Satyajit Ray, this is a documentary on Sikkim commissioned by the then King of Sikkim Chogyal.
The brilliantly made film is about the sovereignty of Sikkim. But in 1975 when Sikkim became a part of India the documentary was banned by the Indian Government.
Recently, in 2010 the ban was lifted and the classic is now available for all you film lovers!
9. Fire (1996)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnshN0wqiCo
Directed by Deepa Mehta, this is one powerful Indian film that tells the story of two wives from a middle class family who being frustrated by their loneliness and dissatisfied sex-life ignites a lesbian relationship among themselves.
Bold and thought provoking – though globally appreciated and well received but was predictably banned in India right after its release!
8. Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqztmYen6co
With numerous candid sexual scenes throughout the film, although artistic and sensual in a very royal-Indian way, this film of course couldn’t manage to pass the morality test of the Indian Censor board.
Directed by Mira Nair, a brilliant piece of storytelling which was too offensive for the audience of a country from where the whole concept of ‘Kama Sutra’ was actually originated. What an Irony!
7. Parzania (2005)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHWPWsOmoWA
A brilliant film that dares to portray the horrific and painful genocide that took place in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002, commonly known as the Gujarat riots!
It was banned in Gujarat because of it’s sensitive subject even though director Rahul Dholakia and lead-actress Sarika won the National award for the film!
Great performances by Naseeruddin Shah and Corin Nemec as well.
Another film on the same subject that was banned too was Nandita Das‘s Firaaq (2008)
6. Black Friday (2004)
Film scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR1mkPQI9z0
The 1993 serial Bombay bomb blasts that shook the entire nation and then, it’s aftermath – a film that managed to portray it all and that too in a brilliant graphic manner.
This Anurag Kashyap film was too dark and realistic to release at the time specially since the trail decisions of the many arrested were pending.
5. Bandit Queen (1994)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66uIVFb6ATA
Abusive language, nudity, sexually offensive content – the biopic on the media-hyped woman-bandit Phoolan Devi was banned by the Indian Censor board due to all those reasons!
But then again the film directed by Shekhar Kapur, is one of the most courageous and dramatic Indian biopic that I have seen till date!
Seema Biswas won the National Award for her stellar performance as Phoolan Devi while Shekhar Kapur won the Filmfare Best director award!
4. Garm Hava (1974)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJqPQjADWGE
Scorching Winds, the film that depicts a Muslim family struggling to find their identity as our country was reeling through the repercussions of the partition.
Directed by M.S. Sathyu, and brilliant performance by Balraj Sahni, but the film was banned since the subject matter was considered to be too sensitive for the time. Finally, after 8 months it got released, and yes – the film was also nominated for the Palme d’Or at the prestigious Cannes Film festival!
3. Aandhi (1975)
Film song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-HnmVg0-O8
Directed by Gulzar, this one was banned during the time of it’s release due to the fact that the lead character played by Suchitra Sen seemed to have similarities with the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Later in 1977 the movie finally got it’s theatrical release; the film won the best critic award and Sanjeev Kumar won the best actor at the Filmfare Awards!
2. Amu (2005)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqGGM8xl3Qw
A film based on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a brilliant story woven around the genocide that once shook our country.
Directed by Shonali Bose and superb performance by Konkona Sen Sharma, the film got banned of course because of it’s sensitive subject matter but it did get a release with an adult rating and some specific audio-cuts. The film won a National Award that year!
- Water (2005)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7uM-CbzIAI
Another one from the highly acclaimed director Deepa Mehta, a stunning portrayal of the widows in India who are forced into a life of extreme sacrifice and poverty.
The film was not only restricted from the release by protesters who felt it was too controversial a topic for the Indian audience, even the sets of the film were attacked by fanatics while the film was being shot!
and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)
+1. Gulabi Aaina (2003)
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEWPwrAjgpY
The Pink Mirror – a 40min short directed by Sridhar Rangayan which explores homosexuality in India. Through this unique film the concept of trans-sexuality was addressed probably for the first time in our country.
Needless to say a bold film on gender issues has to be banned by the Censor Board even when it was screened in more than 70 film festivals and been appreciated by the critics all across the globe!
Similar Interest: Best Concentration Camp films during the Holocaust
Similar Interest: Best Jew-Nazi dramas during the Holocaust
Poster courtesy: sikkimnow.blogspot.in, www.imdb.com.
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