Satluj to Jan Nayakan: 6 films that fought censorship over political controversies
Films often run into trouble with censor boards and various authorities due to political themes. From Satluj to Jan Nayakan, these six films sparked debate that went far beyond the big screen.
From political dramas to real-life stories, many films have faced huge challenges before reaching the audience. While some fought for censor board cuts, others faced protests, legal hurdles and political opposition. From singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh Satluj Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay Jan NayganHere are six films that became part of major censorship battles.
Satluj
Biopic film of singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh Satluj (original title Punjab ’95) has sparked a major debate on freedom of expression, censorship and political sensitivity. Based on the life of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film focuses on his investigation of thousands of alleged illegal cremations by the Punjab Police in the 1990s.
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The film faced one of the biggest censorship battles in recent years, with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly demanding 127 cuts. The board asked to remove the real name of the hero, reference to Punjab Police, places like Tarn Taran and Gurbani scenes. It also raised concerns that the unedited version could radicalize youth.
In 2023, production house RSVP Movies approached the Bombay High Court against the CBFC’s demands, but later withdrew the petition to explore other release options. The film also received support from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), despite facing criticism from state officials.
The controversy escalated when the filmmakers attempted to stream the uncut version on ZEE5 using a loophole under the IT Rules 2021. However, within 48 hours, the central government cited national security concerns and the film was removed from the platform. Its release remains uncertain.
Jan Naygan
CM Vijay-Starrer Jan Naygan It faced delays after objections were raised over its political content. The film was originally scheduled to release on 9 January 2026, but a member of the CBFC screening committee reportedly raised concerns over its themes.
The controversy gained further prominence after Vijay’s political entry and his victory in the elections, after which he became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. After a month-long legal battle, the producers withdrew their court petition and sent the H Vinoth-directed film to the CBFC review committee.
In April 2026, an HD print of the film from an editing suite was leaked online. The leak reportedly resulted in 12 million illegal views and several arrests, including that of a freelance editor.
In July 2026, a viral ‘A’ certificate claiming that the film had three hours of runtime and violence cut and a character named “Collector Shanmugam” was found to be fake. The certificate was allegedly forged using details from Vijay’s 2023 film leo.
The film, which also stars Mamita Baiju, Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde, is still awaiting certification before its theatrical release.
black Friday
Anurag Kashyap’s black Friday (2004) faced a long battle due to its portrayal of the 1993 Bombay blasts and the relationship between crime, communal violence and corruption.
Although the CBFC ultimately gave the film an Adults Only (‘A’) certificate, it demanded the cutting of several intense scenes, including portions showing police brutality and interrogation methods.
The biggest blow came when the Bombay High Court stayed the film’s release in January 2005, just eight days before its scheduled release. The court said that this film could affect the ongoing TADA terror cases.
The film was shelved for almost three years before its theatrical release was allowed by the Supreme Court in February 2007.
kashmir files
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri kashmir files It faced debate over concerns over its portrayal of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and its impact on communal harmony.
In early 2022, the CBFC gave the film an ‘A’ certificate after a two-month controversy. The board ordered seven redactions, including changing “JNU” to “ANU” and removing some political scenes and profanity.
The film also faced criticism at the international level. In March 2022, the British Board of Film Classification passed it without any cuts with a 15 rating. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s classification body initially halted screenings before changing the rating from R16 to R18.
On May 9, 2022, Singapore’s IMDA refused certification and banned the film, citing concerns over potential religious tension.
story of chair
Political satire of filmmaker Amrit Nahta story of chair It is one of the most controversial censorship cases in Indian cinema history.
The film, submitted for certification in April 1975, faced 51 objections from the CBFC due to its satirical portrayal of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi.
After the announcement of emergency The film was banned in June 1975 and its prints were confiscated. The master negative was later confiscated from the CBFC office and destroyed at the Maruti factory in Gurgaon, making the original version permanently unavailable.
After emergency was over and the Congress government lost power in March 1977, director Amrit Nahta remade the film with a new cast including Shabana Azmi, Raj Babbar and Utpal Dutt.
The new version also faced censorship issues and received 25 cuts before being released to theaters on 16 February 1978.
emergency
Politician and actor Kangana Ranaut emergency It faced delays due to objections from Sikh organizations including Shiromani Akali Dal over concerns about the depiction of historical events and representation of the Sikh community.
The controversy escalated after death threats were issued to CBFC members, leading to further delays in certification.
Co-producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises approached the Bombay High Court seeking approval for the film. Eventually, the producers agreed to the cuts suggested by the CBFC’s review committee and the film received a U/A certificate.