Despite 'A' certificate, CBFC chops off 3 minutes from 'Babygirl'
What's the story
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly cut three minutes and 38 seconds from Nicole Kidman's film Babygirl, despite giving it an "A" certification.
The movie, directed by Halina Reijn, is an erotic thriller that follows a CEO who embarks on an affair with a young intern at her company.
It was released in India on February 21.
Censorship details
CBFC's unexpected cuts surprised distributors
A source close to Babygirl's Indian distributors was surprised at how far the CBFC went with its cuts.
They told Mid-Day, "We were prepared for the CBFC to demand alterations to full-frontal nudity, but the removal of explicit language was unexpected."
The source added that scenes showing sexual acts and some masturbation scenes were also cut from the film.
Insider's view
'The film's raw emotionality gets dulled down...'
An anonymous CBFC insider lamented the effect such cuts would have on a movie like Babygirl.
"The film's raw emotionality gets dulled down when you start policing expression to this extent," the insider said.
They added that these decisions are driven by pressure from conservative groups who want the content to be adapted to Indian sensibilities.
Similar censoring was done for Adrien Brody's Oscar-nominated flick, The Brutalist.
Censorship inconsistency
CBFC's inconsistent censorship decisions
The source close to the film's distributors also emphasized the inconsistency in CBFC's decisions.
They noted that while films like Saltburn faced strict censorship despite an "A" certificate, others like Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) were passed with cuss words intact.
This unpredictability adds another layer of complexity for filmmakers and distributors navigating the Indian film certification process.
Can Indian cine lovers no longer watch international films with their original flavor intact?