The Indian OTT release of Sandhya Suri's film *Santosh* was abruptly halted due to censorship issues, causing significant disappointment for the director. Although the film had premiered at Cannes in 2024 and released in the US, issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India led to the cancellation of its theatrical release and subsequently delayed its digital premiere on Lionsgate Play, initially scheduled for October 17, 2025. Sandhya Suri expressed frustration that the CBFC's demanded cuts, which she found unacceptable as they compromised the film's integrity, were not only an obstacle for theatrical release but also influenced the OTT streaming situation. She noted that by law, streaming platforms do not require censorship certification, but the platforms appear to voluntarily impose certain restrictions, possibly to maintain a "harmonious universe." Despite these hurdles, the film has been viewed by Indian audiences through unofficial means already[2][3][4]. *Santosh* centers on a newly widowed woman who assumes her late husband's police constable role and gets involved in a murder investigation, highlighting social issues through its narrative[2]. Additionally, Suri is working on an adaptation of a JG Ballard novel and has recently been honored with the BFI and Chanel Filmmaker Award for 2025[2]. In summary, *Santosh*'s Indian digital release was stopped last minute because the team refused CBFC-mandated cuts, and although OTT platforms legally do not require certification, they appear to self-censor content reflecting regulatory pressure or environment[2][3][4].
Citations
1.https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65511536/
2.https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/santosh-is-not-getting-an-ott-release-after-all/story
3.https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/santosh-ott-premiere-paused-director-sandhya-suri-calls-real-shame/
4.https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/sandhya-suri-reacts-to-pause-on-digital-premiere-of-santosh-in-india/cid/2128264
5.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/santosh-ott-release-when-and-where-to-watch-shahana-goswamis-film-that-faced-cbfc-issues-skipped-theaters/articleshow/124557174.cms
6.https://economictimes.com/magazines/panache/santosh-ott-release-date-announced-when-and-where-to-oscar-shortlisted-movie-online-after-cbfc-delays/articleshow/124367940.cms
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Citations
1.https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65511536/
2.https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/santosh-is-not-getting-an-ott-release-after-all/story
3.https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/santosh-ott-premiere-paused-director-sandhya-suri-calls-real-shame/
4.https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/sandhya-suri-reacts-to-pause-on-digital-premiere-of-santosh-in-india/cid/2128264
5.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/santosh-ott-release-when-and-where-to-watch-shahana-goswamis-film-that-faced-cbfc-issues-skipped-theaters/articleshow/124557174.cms
6.https://economictimes.com/magazines/panache/santosh-ott-release-date-announced-when-and-where-to-oscar-shortlisted-movie-online-after-cbfc-delays/articleshow/124367940.cms
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This email was sent automatically with n8n