Movies are a source of entertainment and a great way to pass the time. But, with the ever-increasing censorship laws in India, some movies have been deemed too risqué, too political, or too offensive to be allowed to be shown in Indian cinemas. Here is a list of five movies that were banned in India.
1. Padmaavat (2018)
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Padmaavat was one of the most controversial films to be released in India in 2018. This epic period drama was based on the 16th-century Sufi poem Padmavat and starred Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh. The movie was met with heavy resistance from the Rajput Karni Sena, a fringe group that claimed that the distorted film history depicted the Rajputs in a bad light. As a result, the film was banned in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and a nationwide ban was imposed due to the protests and threats of violence.
2. Black Friday (2007)
Black Friday is a gripping crime drama directed by Anurag Kashyap, based on the 1993 Bombay bombings. The movie was banned in India due to its explicit content and graphic depictions of violence. The movie was initially cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), but the Indian government decided to ban it due to its controversial subject matter.
3. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
The Da Vinci Code is a controversial drama based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel of the same name. The movie, directed by Ron Howard, stars Tom Hanks as Professor Robert Langdon and Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu. The movie was banned in India due to its depiction of the Catholic Church and Christianity, which the Indian government felt was offensive to the religious sentiments of the country.
4. 50 Shades of Grey (2015)
The movie adaptation of E.L. James’ best-selling novel, 50 Shades of Grey, was banned in India due to its explicit sexual content and scenes of nudity. The movie, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson as the lead characters. The movie was initially cleared by the CBFC with an ‘A’ rating, but due to pressure from religious groups and activists, the government decided to ban it.
5. Fire (1996)
Fire is a landmark movie in Indian cinema, being the first mainstream movie to deal with lesbianism. Directed by Deepa Mehta, the movie stars Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das as two women who fall in love. The movie was initially cleared by the CBFC, but it was met with heavy opposition from religious groups and activists who felt that it was too risqué. As a result, the movie was banned in India, although it was later released after several cuts were made to the movie.
These are just a few of the movies which have been banned in India due to their controversial content. The Indian government has been very strict when it comes to censorship, and it seems that the trend is likely to continue. Movies which are deemed too offensive or controversial are unlikely to be allowed to be released in India, and it is important that filmmakers keep this in mind when making their movies.
