Filmmaker Sanjay Sharma Questions Delay in CBFC Certification Process for Sahiya

Filmmaker and producer Sanjay Sharma has raised concerns over the delay in the certification process of his upcoming film Sahiya, questioning the functioning of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

According to Sharma, the film was submitted under the Priority (Tatkal) category, under which the examination is expected to be completed within the prescribed time frame. However, despite the priority application, the film was reportedly screened only after nearly one and a half months.

Sharma stated that during the screening, he was informed that the film would be referred to the Review Committee because it is set against the backdrop of Naxal-affected regions. He clarified that Sahiya is not a film about Naxalism. Rather, it is a deeply emotional family drama and human love story set amidst the forests. He emphasized that the film neither promotes, glorifies, nor endorses Naxalism or any form of violent ideology.

He further pointed out that more than ten days have passed since the screening, yet the filmmakers have neither received any official communication confirming that the film has been referred to the Review Committee nor any final decision regarding its certification.

Sharma said that if the Board has any concerns regarding a film, they should certainly be addressed through the due process prescribed under the certification rules. However, he stressed that the entire process must also remain transparent and time-bound. Unnecessary delays, he said, not only result in significant financial losses for producers but also disrupt carefully planned release schedules.

He has urged the Central Board of Film Certification to expedite the decision on Sahiya so that, if the film meets the prescribed certification standards, it can be released without any further unnecessary delay.

Sahiya was shot in the scenic Netarhat region of Jharkhand. The film stars Neeraj Kabi, Shantanu Maheshwari, and Rinku Rajguru in lead roles. Its soundtrack features acclaimed singers Sona Mohapatra, Javed Ali, Richa Sharma, Krishna Beuraa, and Swanand Kirkire, while the lyrics have been penned by Sameer Anjaan and Swanand Kirkire.