New Delhi: Filmmaker Sudipto Sen has weighed in on the ongoing conversation about creative freedom and the extent of judicial intervention in cinema, particularly in the context of his film The Kerala Story.
In an exclusive chat with News9 about whether courts should step in after a film receives certification, Sen maintained that the process laid down by the Indian Constitution must be respected.
Sudipto Sen: Courts must respect CBFC clearance of The Kerala Story
Sudipto Sen pointed out in a chat with News9 that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a constitutional body established under the framework of Indian law. According to him, once such a statutory authority clears a film for release, its decision should carry finality. “When a constitutional body allows a film, then the court should not have a say in it,” he asserted, emphasising that one constitutional authority should not interfere in the functioning of another.
Sen argued that if there are concerns about how the CBFC applies its guidelines or exercises its sensibilities, those concerns should be addressed through public discourse rather than judicial intervention. He called for a broader social and civil society debate on what standards the censor board should uphold. In his view, questioning the credibility or approach of the CBFC is legitimate, but that discussion must happen at a policy and societal level.
The director further questioned how decisions could be made without thoroughly engaging with the content of a film. He suggested that constructive dialogue would be more productive than legal confrontation, even inviting critics to sit down and discuss their concerns.
At the heart of Sen’s argument is a larger issue confronting the film industry — the balance between creative freedom, institutional accountability, and judicial oversight. While acknowledging that disagreements are inevitable in a democratic setup, he maintained that established constitutional processes should be respected to safeguard artistic expression.
(With inputs from Bharti K Dubey)