CBFC faces fresh heat over Rahu Ketu’s “voom” scream swap and Dhurandhar’s “Baloch” mute. Vijay’s Jana Nayagan battles 27 cuts in court, Parasakthi loses 25. Past hits like Haider (23 cuts) and Udta Punjab (89 slashes, court win) show censorship clipping bold cinema’s wings.
In recent times, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has often been at the center of the storm, balancing creative freedom against societal and political guidelines. The newest additions being the “Voom” ‘Kantara’ scream from ‘Rahu Ketu’ to the muting of the word “Baloch” in the Ranveer Singh led ‘Dhurandhar’. Safe to say, the history of censorship in Bollywood is a notable record of how films were and continue to be shaped by the scissors of the nation.Across regional cinema, January 2026 began with the Thalapathy Vijay starrer political thriller ‘Jana Nayagan’ being embroiled in a crisis. Despite accepting 27 cuts, a CBFC referral to a Revising Committee sparked a legal battle. With the Supreme Court refusing to intervene, Vijay’s swansong film still awaits a decisive January 20 Madras High Court hearing. Meanwhile, Sivakrthikeyan starrer ‘Parasakthi’ borrows from the Sivaji Ganesan original. Sudha Kongara’s 2026 remake survived 25 last-minute cuts and a Youth Congress ban demand over alleged historical distortions regarding Indira Gandhi and anti-Hindi agitations.
‘Rahu Ketu’ certification
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared Pulkit Samrat’s ‘Rahu Ketu’ with a U/A 16+ rating after the makers implemented several key changes ahead of its January 16, 2026 release. They replaced the iconic “voom” scream from Kantara’s soundtrack in a scene, substituted visuals of drug sniffing and changed middle finger gestures to pinky finger displays, and removed all alcohol brand names from bottles and scenes. A dialogue in one scene was swapped, and makers submitted an authentication letter for a Sanskrit shloka used in the film, securing certification on January 12 with the final runtime at 139 minutes 40 seconds.
‘Dhurandhar’ re-release
Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller ‘Dhurandhar’ continues its stellar box office run since hitting theaters on December 5, 2025. Despite widespread audience acclaim, some labeled it “propaganda” over its political elements. The makers re-released a revised version. As per Bollywood Hungama reports, cinema halls nationwide received an email from distributors on December 31, 2025, announcing the DCP replacement. A source informed the outlet, “The change stems from muting two words and altering a dialogue, following directives from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.” Theaters were reportedly instructed to download the updated version for screenings starting January 1, 2026. The insider added, “One muted word in the new Dhurandhar cut is ‘Baloch’.”
Shahid Kapoor starrer ‘Haider’
Vishal Bhardwaj’s 2014 adaptation of ‘Hamlet’, ‘Haider’, tackled the Kashmir conflict head-on. CBFC demanded 23 cuts, including muting “azaadi” chants and toning down violent scenes, yet it retained its intensity and won National Awards. These changes softened political edges but couldn’t dilute its critical acclaim. The film stars Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Shraddha Kapoor, Kay Kay Menon and others in lead roles.
Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer ‘Udta Punjab’
Anurag Kashyap’s 2016 film ‘Udta Punjab’ exposed Punjab’s drug crisis, leading to a fierce CBFC standoff. The board slashed 89 cuts, altering “Punjab” to “Punjabistan” and beeping abuses, but the Bombay High Court intervened, allowing release with minimal edits. This victory marked a rare win eventually leading the film to a good box office and creating a social impact as well. It features Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh and others. Go to Source
