'Sahiya' CBFC delay: Filmmaker Sanjay Sharma questions certification process
Synopsis
Filmmaker Sanjay Sharma says the CBFC screened his forest-set love story 'Sahiya' nearly six weeks late, then flagged it for a Naxalism review — a charge he flatly denies. More than ten days on, the board has sent no formal communication, leaving the release schedule and production finances in limbo.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Sharma , producer-director of 'Sahiya' , has publicly questioned the CBFC over unexplained certification delays.
The film's screening before the board occurred nearly one and a half months after a priority-category application was filed.
The CBFC reportedly flagged a Naxalism backdrop and indicated referral to a review committee; Sharma denies the film carries any such ideology.
More than ten days after the screening, no formal communication or final decision has been received from the board.
The film stars Neeraj Kabi , Shantanu Maheshwari , and Rinku Rajguru , and was shot in Netarhat, Jharkhand .
Filmmaker Sanjay Sharma, the producer and director of 'Sahiya', has publicly questioned the functioning of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) over what he describes as an unexplained and costly delay in the film's certification process. The film, shot in the Netarhat area of Jharkhand, has been awaiting a clearance decision for over ten days following its board screening.
The Certification Timeline
According to Sharma, the production team applied for certification under the priority category, which carries a defined screening timeline. Despite this, the film's screening before the board took place nearly one and a half months after the application was filed — a delay he says was not explained by the CBFC.
When the film was finally screened, board members reportedly flagged its Naxalism backdrop as a concern, indicating the film would be referred to a review committee for further examination.
Filmmaker Refutes Naxalism Angle
Sharma has firmly pushed back against this characterisation. He maintains that 'Sahiya' is not a film about Naxalism, but rather a family and human love story set against a forest backdrop. He stressed that the film neither promotes nor supports any violent ideology, and that the forest setting has been misread as ideological content.
Notably, more than ten days after the screening, the production team says it has received no formal communication confirming whether the film has been referred to a review committee, nor any final decision from the CBFC.
Financial and Logistical Impact
Sharma has underlined that prolonged certification delays carry real financial consequences. Pre-approved release schedules can unravel, marketing commitments are disrupted, and producers absorb holding costs with no certainty of resolution. He has called on the CBFC to ensure that whatever decision is reached — with or without objections — it is communicated within a defined timeframe and in accordance with established rules.
About the Film
The film features Neeraj Kabi, Shantanu Maheshwari, and Rinku Rajguru in lead roles. Its soundtrack includes contributions from vocalists Sona Mohapatra, Javed Ali, Richa Sharma, Krishna Beura, and Swanand Kirkire, with lyrics by Sameer Anjaan and Swanand Kirkire. Principal photography took place in the Netarhat region of Jharkhand.
With no decision in sight, Sharma has formally urged the CBFC to resolve the certification without further delay, so the film can proceed to release on schedule.
Point of View
Particularly for films touching on sensitive regional backdrops. A priority-category application is meant to guarantee speed; a six-week screening delay defeats that purpose entirely. More troubling is the post-screening silence — if a review committee referral has been made, the board is obligated to communicate it formally. The Naxalism flag on a film the director describes as a forest-set love story also raises questions about how board members assess thematic context versus setting. Without transparent, time-bound communication protocols, the CBFC risks functioning as an unpredictable bottleneck rather than a regulatory body.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the CBFC delaying 'Sahiya's certification?
The CBFC has not publicly explained the delay. Filmmaker Sanjay Sharma says the board screened the film nearly one and a half months after a priority-category application, and has since given no formal update despite more than ten days passing since the screening.
What is the Naxalism controversy around 'Sahiya'?
During the board screening, CBFC members reportedly raised concerns about the film's Naxalism backdrop and indicated it may be sent to a review committee. Director Sanjay Sharma has refuted this, stating 'Sahiya' is a family and human love story set in a forest, and does not promote or support any violent ideology.
Who stars in the film 'Sahiya'?
'Sahiya' features Neeraj Kabi, Shantanu Maheshwari, and Rinku Rajguru in lead roles, with vocals by Sona Mohapatra, Javed Ali, Richa Sharma, Krishna Beura, and Swanand Kirkire. The film was shot in the Netarhat area of Jharkhand.
What has Sanjay Sharma demanded from the CBFC?
Sharma has urged the CBFC to issue a formal decision on 'Sahiya' without further delay. He has asked that if the board has objections, it follow established rules and communicate its decision within a defined timeframe, noting that delays cause financial loss and disrupt pre-approved release schedules.
What is the CBFC priority category?
The priority category is a CBFC certification track that is supposed to guarantee screening within a specified, shorter timeframe. Sharma alleges the board failed to honour this timeline, screening 'Sahiya' roughly one and a half months after the application was submitted.
