The number of movies banned by the CBFC might be said to have decreased over a decade. It was not like this in the 1990s or early 2000s, though. Films that referred to sexuality, religion, or delved into an issue that was considered improper were quickly removed from public exhibition.
Even though we still have a long road ahead of us, the debates on freedom of speech and an individual’s right to express oneself have made our society somewhat more open-minded to opposing views and opinions.
In fact, with more films gaining approval from the CFBC, things are going better for Indian cinema. We now have online streaming services for those who were unable to attend in person.
In fact, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most banned films by the CBFC that you may stream on OTT platforms.
Contents
- 1. Unfreedom (2014) – Netflix
- 2. Fire (1996) – YouTube
- 3. Nayakan (1987) – Amazon Prime
- 4. Water (2015) – Netflix
- 5. Kissa Kursi Ka (1978) – YouTube
- 6. Parzania (2005) – YouTube, Hotstar
- 7. Black Friday (2004) – Hotstar, Netflix
- 8. Gandu (2010) – Netflix
- 9. Inshallah, Football (2010) – YouTube
- 10. Angry Indian Goddesses (2015) – Netflix
1. Unfreedom (2014) – Netflix
Unfreedom is a controversial film that was banned in India for its graphic portrayal of LGBT issues and sexual violence. The film received a lot of critical acclaim for its bold subject matter but was deemed too “sensitive” for Indian audiences.
The film was banned by the CBFC for its homosexual content and themes of religious intolerance. It was also criticized for its graphic violence and sexual scenes.
2. Fire (1996) – YouTube
Directed by Deepa Mehta, Fire is a 1996 Indian-Canadian drama film about the struggles of two women in a traditional marriage. The film stars Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das as the two women who find solace in each other after their husbands start to ignore them.
Although the film was praised for its depiction of female bonding and empowerment, it was also banned by the CBFC for its homosexual content. You can watch Fire on YouTube for free.
3. Nayakan (1987) – Amazon Prime
Nayakan is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language crime drama film directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Kamal Haasan, Saranya Ponvannan and Livingston. The film follows the story of a slum dweller who becomes a don in Chennai.
Nayakan was banned by the CBFC for its violence and themes of lawlessness. However, Nayakan is available on Amazon Prime now.
4. Water (2015) – Netflix
Water is a 2015 Indian drama film directed by Deepa Mehta, starring Sarala Kariyawasam, Lisa Ray and John Abraham. The film follows the life of a widowed woman who moves to India after the death of her husband.
Water was banned by the CBFC for its sexual content and nudity. You can watch this film on Netflix now.
5. Kissa Kursi Ka (1978) – YouTube
Kissa Kursi Ka is a 1978 Indian political satire film directed by Amrit Nahata, starring Shabana Azmi and Amitabh Bachchan. The film was banned by the Indira Gandhi government for its political satire and criticism of the government.
6. Parzania (2005) – YouTube, Hotstar
Parzania is a 2005 Indian drama film directed by Rahul Dholakia, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika. The film is based on the true story of a 10-year-old boy who goes missing during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Parzania was banned by the CBFC for its graphic portrayal of violence and religious intolerance. However, it was later released with an A (Adults only) certificate.
7. Black Friday (2004) – Hotstar, Netflix
Black Friday is a 2004 Indian crime drama film directed by Anurag Kashyap, based on the book Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts by S. Hussain Zaidi. The film stars Pavan Malhotra, Kay Kay Menon and Aditya Srivastava.
Black Friday was banned by the CBFC for its graphic portrayal of violence and terrorism. However, it was later released with an A (Adults only) certificate.
8. Gandu (2010) – Netflix
Gandu is a 2010 Indian Bengali-language black comedy film directed by Q, starring Anubrata Basu and Joyraj Bhattacharya. The film follows the story of a young man who is frustrated with his life and decides to take out his anger on the world.
Gandu was banned by the CBFC for its graphic portrayal of nudity and sexuality. Gandu is available on Netflix now.
9. Inshallah, Football (2010) – YouTube
The film is available on YouTube.
Inshallah, Football is a 2010 Indian documentary film directed by Ashvin Kumar, about the Kashmiri football team and their struggle to play the game in the midst of violence and political unrest.
The film was banned by the CBFC for its political content.
10. Angry Indian Goddesses (2015) – Netflix
Angry Indian Goddesses is a 2015 Indian comedy-drama film directed by Pan Nalin, starring Sarah-Jane Dias, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Anushka Manchanda. The film follows a group of women who travel to Goa for a friend’s wedding.
Angry Indian Goddesses was banned by the CBFC for its strong language and sexual content.
