CBFC Strikes Again: Trouble for Varalaxmi’s ‘Saraswathi’

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar’s upcoming film has run into an unexpected speed breaker during the censor process. The film, which was originally titled Saraswathi, had to change its name at the last minute to S. Saraswathi before it could receive certification from the Central Board of Film Certification. After the title change, the board cleared the film with a UA 16+ certificate and a runtime of 121 minutes.

While the issue might look minor on the surface, it highlights a growing problem that many small Tollywood producers are facing. In recent months, the CBFC has reportedly raised objections to several film titles during the final stage of certification. This has forced filmmakers to alter their titles after completing promotions, releasing posters, trailers, and conducting media interviews under the original name.

Recent films such as Hey Bhagawan, Chaiwala, and Vaanara also faced similar situations where the title had to be changed suddenly during the censor stage. Trade experts claim the films performed pretty badly at the box office and say the name change was also one of the reasons.

For smaller films, this can be a serious setback. A film’s title acts as its main brand identity and marketing hook. When that name changes suddenly, it creates confusion among audiences and forces producers to redo promotional materials, which can be financially draining.

Producer Ahiteja Bellamkonda even expressed frustration on social media, claiming the new censor officer has been too problematic and demanding clearer guidelines for filmmakers while registering titles with the film chamber.

For many in the industry, the issue is not just about one film. They argue that the lack of clear and consistent rules regarding titles is creating unnecessary stress for small budget filmmakers who are already working with limited resources and many other challenges.