Filmmaker Sudipto Sen’s upcoming film Charak: Fair of Faith has been denied certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and referred to a review committee, just weeks ahead of its scheduled release on March 6.
The development comes shortly after the teaser of the film was released, triggering debate over its subject matter. The director confirmed that the CBFC has recommended cuts in certain sequences, particularly scenes depicting alleged ritual cannibalism, though the exact reasons for denying certification remain unclear.
Sen said he is willing to make edits if necessary but expressed concern that the objections appear to go beyond individual scenes and question the very premise of the film.
“I genuinely do not have a clear idea why the clearance was denied. I am willing to even opt for certain cuts and sacrifice some visuals for the film’s sake. But now the bigger question is lurking on my film itself. At this juncture, I can only be hopeful,” he told media.
The certification dispute marks another controversy for Sen, whose earlier film The Kerala Story had sparked intense nationwide debate. With a sequel already attracting pre-release attention, the filmmaker now finds himself confronting institutional hurdles over Charak.
Unlike his previous work, Sen described Charak as a “matter-of-fact documentation” focusing on alleged occult practices within certain Hindu cult groups. According to him, the film includes references to practices such as human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism.
He emphasised that the project is not intended as ideological provocation but as an exposé of illegal and superstitious practices carried out in the name of faith.
“If something illegal is happening in the name of faith, should cinema look away? My work is to bring facts before society,” Sen said.
Sen maintained that the film is based on documented material rather than fictional storytelling. He said the production team had submitted supporting documentation to the certification authorities.
“In our last meeting, I was told the film would be evaluated sympathetically. We have presented documented material, not fiction. However, truth is always uncomfortable,” he said.
The film reportedly also touches upon cases of missing children and persons, suggesting a possible connection between disappearances and ritualistic practices.
The filmmaker argued that controversial themes are often mistaken for deliberate attempts to offend religious sentiments. He also noted what he described as an ironic situation, that while his earlier films were accused by critics of targeting a particular community, his current project has faced resistance despite focusing on issues within Hindu sects.
“Even though I do not know the reasons for such resistance, ideological or otherwise, the first and the basic response to the film did not seem encouraging to me. However, after the release of the teaser, I got a huge response from my well-wishers,” he said.
With the film now under review and the release date approaching, uncertainty continues to surround the project. Industry observers suggest that a legal challenge cannot be ruled out if certification delays persist.
For Sen, however, controversy appears to be an unavoidable part of filmmaking.
“Controversy is not my goal, but silence in the face of uncomfortable truth is not an option either,” he said.
As the review process continues, Charak: Fair of Faith remains at the intersection of cinema, faith, and public debate.
