Censor Board faces flak for cuts in Superman and F1, fans say grow up

India Today

12-07-2025

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has come under fire for cutting a 33-second scene from James Gunn's latest 'Superman' film, which features a romantic moment between Superman, played by David Corenswet, and Lois Lane, portrayed by Rachel Brosnahan. Released on July 11, 2025, the film was granted a U/A certificate after the removal of what the CBFC deemed a "sensual visual". This decision has provoked significant debate on social media, with many questioning the board's consistency in standards.advertisementWHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY?The controversial decision centred around the scene's suitability for the U/A 13+ rating, intended for audiences above the age of 13 with parental guidance. The CBFC argued that the scene was overly sensual and inappropriate for younger viewers, leading to a slight reduction in the film's runtime, though the final length remains undisclosed.
However, the decision has sparked sharp criticism from fans and viewers who feel the board is applying double standards. On social media platform X, users expressed frustration at the seeming inconsistency, particularly when compared to Bollywood films. One user remarked, "CBFC cuts a 33-second kiss in Superman, but item numbers with half-naked dancers and vulgar lyrics get a free pass? What's the logic?"In addition to the kissing scene, the CBFC also muted several curse words throughout the film. Another scene featuring an eight-second foul gesture was trimmed and replaced with a two-second shot.This has reignited discussions about the board's inconsistent standards, with critics noting that similar censorship does not seem to apply to domestic film productions. Another user on X stated, "What's wrong with the Indian censor board? They cut out the kisses between Clarke and Lois. What kind of oversensitive morons are running the censor board? You think Indian audiences can't handle kissing? You think children today don't know what kissing is?"Read all the comments here:
The decision has sparked accusations of cultural bias, with many questioning why intimate scenes in Hollywood films are censured while Bollywood's suggestive song-and-dance numbers are not. One social media commenter wrote, "Why is a kiss between Superman and Lois Lane a problem, but Bollywood's item numbers with provocative moves are okay for kids?"A user wrote, "Like changing the middle finger emoji to a fistbump emoji in 'F1' movie, that totally changed the meaning and left the audience confused. CBFC, grow up (sic)."HOW DID IT BEGIN?This controversy follows a recent incident where the CBFC altered a middle finger emoji to a fist emoji in the film 'F1', starring Brad Pitt, leading to criticism for changing the intended meaning. Similary, five abusive words - 'a*', 'ahole', 'dks', 'b**h' and 'prick'- were muted from the Marvel film 'Thunderbolts'.Such actions have led to calls for a review of the CBFC's guidelines to ensure consistent application across all films, regardless of origin.As the debate continues, the CBFC has yet to comment publicly on the criticism. The board remains under scrutiny for how it balances cultural values with cinematic expression, particularly in the context of international films.Both the films are currently running in theatres.- EndsWith inputs from Tushar JoshiMust Watch