The buzz around Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge refuses to die down, but amid its roaring box office run, a curious debate has now taken centre stage. Actor-director Deepak Tijori has called out what he sees as a puzzling inconsistency in the way films are censored for theatrical release versus how they are later consumed on OTT platforms.Taking to Instagram, Tijori shared a detailed note questioning the logic behind partially muting abusive words in theatrical versions, especially in films that are already certified for adult audiences.
“I must admit… maybe I’m missing something. Maybe I just don’t have the kind of intellect that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) or its board members possess,” he wrote, setting the tone for his critique.He went on to add, “Because I genuinely don’t understand this—why mute half the abuses and let the other half stay? At places, keep some and fully mute some? Especially when the film is already certified 18+, which clearly means it’s meant for adults. So who exactly are we protecting here? And from what… half a word?”
‘What’s the logic when OTT versions are uncut?’
Tijori further pointed out what he believes is a glaring contradiction in the system. Highlighting how films arrive on OTT platforms shortly after their theatrical run, he questioned the effectiveness of such censorship.“And then comes the part that really confuses me—the same film, within a month or two, releases on OTT… completely unmuted… untouched… exactly as it was meant to be. And that’s where kids end up watching it… at home… sitting with family… with everything fully audible,” he noted.“So I’m just trying to understand, honestly—how smart is it to ‘half mute’ something in theatres for adults, when the same thing plays out in full volume at home soon after? Maybe there’s a logic here I’m unable to see… or maybe, just maybe… we’re overthinking the wrong things,” he concluded, adding hashtags like #JustTryingToUnderstand and #CinemaLogic.
What changes did the CBFC suggest?
According to certification details from the Central Board of Film Certification, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge underwent several modifications before its release. Out of 21 suggested changes, four major ones involved toning down scenes of extreme violence, including sequences described as eye-smashing, beheading, and blunt-force attacks.Additional tweaks included correcting demonetisation dates in subtitles and replacing “Lahore” with “Delhi” in the information text.The film has been granted an ‘A’ certificate and runs for 3 hours, 49 minutes and 36 seconds in India. Notably, the version cleared for Indian audiences is shorter than its overseas counterpart by over six minutes following the board’s cuts.
Box office juggernaut continues
Directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has been on a record-breaking spree since its release. The film, which began with paid previews on March 18, has been drawing packed houses across the country.A sequel to the blockbuster Dhurandhar, the film also features a multi-starrer ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Arjun Rampal. According to trade tracker Sacnilk, the film has collected Rs 623.42 crore net and Rs 744.58 crore gross in India within its first week. It has also performed strongly overseas, adding Rs 261.92 crore. With these numbers, the worldwide total stands at a staggering Rs 1,006.50 crore, cementing its status as one of the fastest films to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark globally.