There’s nothing more painful for filmmakers—and true cinema lovers—than seeing a film kept away from release. Over the years, several remarkable Hindi films have faced this fate and will probably never see the light of day.
These aren’t just random projects; they are critically acclaimed works from celebrated directors who’ve previously stunned audiences with their cinematic brilliance. One such film is Kennedy by Anurag Kashyap. Starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, this thriller was screened at a couple of film festivals and received praise for bringing back the vintage Kashyap flavor.
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Another is Tees by Dibakar Banerjee, which was unfortunately shelved by Netflix before its release. The film explores three generations and the interplay between family values and hierarchical dynamics. Featuring powerhouse performers like Naseeruddin Shah, Neeraj Kabi, and Manisha Koirala, Tees had the potential to be a layered, poignant film.
Honey Trehan, known for Raat Akeli Hai, has made a politically charged film titled Punjab 95, starring Diljit Dosanjh. However, it too has been stalled indefinitely and may never be released.
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The latest addition to this unfortunate list is Anant Mahadevan’s Phule. The film has sparked significant controversy, with sections of the audience demanding cuts and even calling for a ban.
What ties these films together is their bold political or social standpoints—something that appears to be increasingly unwelcome in mainstream cinema. It’s disheartening for Indian audiences to be served formulaic content repeatedly, while thought-provoking, original cinema gets shelved in silence.
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