CBFC Is Okay With Misogyny In Housefull 5, But Not a 30-Sec Kissing Scene in Superman: The Double Standards Are Exhausting

The Superman Controversy: A Kiss Too Far?

When ‘Superman’ starring David Corenswet hit Indian screens, viewers were left confused as the film abruptly jumped ahead during two crucial romantic moments. Critics have slammed the CBFC for routinely allowing films filled with graphic violence, sexual assault, and misogyny, often in movies granted a ‘U’ (universal) rating, while censoring something as tame as a consensual kiss in a PG-13 Hollywood comic book movie.

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The irony is staggering. A consensual kiss between two adults in a superhero film gets the axe, but Bollywood's endless parade of misogynistic content sails through certification. What message does this send? That love and intimacy are obscene, but violence against women is entertainment?

Misogyny Is Fine, As Long As It’s Indian

Let’s talk about ‘Housefull 5’. A multi-crore film, backed by big stars and studio money, whose entire premise hinges on objectifying women, sexualising their bodies, and playing sexist jokes off as ‘family entertainment.’ You’ll see women slapped, ogled at, and humiliated, all for cheap laughs. Not a single cut. No questions raised.

Then there’s the ‘Grand Masti’ franchise, ‘Mastizaade’, ‘Kya Kool Hain Hum’, ‘Great Grand Masti’, movies with entire scenes built around cleavage shots, upskirt gags, and simulated acts. Where was the CBFC’s delicate moral compass then?

These films were cleared, many with just an ‘A’ certificate, despite being offensive, regressive, and dangerous in their messaging. Why is a kiss, a mutual act of affection, more objectionable than jokes about rape or stalking?

CBFC’s Moral Compass Is Broken And Everyone Can See It

When the CBFC censors a kiss but allows rape threats and sexist ‘humour’ to play out uncensored on screen, the hypocrisy becomes hard to ignore. What exactly are we protecting audiences from, intimacy, or empathy?

Films like ‘Saiyaara’ are asked to cut 10 seconds of intimacy. ‘Janaki V vs. State of Kerala’ had to change its title and mute a survivor’s name, not because it was inaccurate, but because it made people uncomfortable, as per CBFC. But entire films about toxic masculinity go untouched, as long as they’re wrapped in glossy packaging.

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While the CBFC obsesses over 30-second kissing scenes, internationally acclaimed films like ‘Anora,’ ‘Nosferatu,’ and ‘Monkey Man’ either face indefinite delays or heavy censorship. The board's approach has made India a laughingstock in global cinema circles.

‘Babygirl’ starring Nicole Kidman received an A certificate only to be carved up anyway, with over three minutes of content removed. ‘The Brutalist’ lost a minute of nudity and sexual content. Even ‘Oppenheimer’ faced the infamous ‘CGI black dress’ treatment.

Just last year, the Donald Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice’ was denied a theatrical release in India after director Ali Abbasi refused to comply with the CBFC’s demanded cuts.

Take ‘F1’, the recent Formula One racing drama starring Brad Pitt. Reports revealed that the CBFC demanded the filmmakers digitally alter a middle finger emoji, replacing it with a fist emoji. In a movie geared toward adults, a tiny cartoon hand was deemed too offensive for Indian sensibilities. This is the absurd level of control we’re dealing with; we are censoring emojis now.

The Real Question: What Are We Protecting?

The CBFC claims to protect Indian culture and values, but whose culture exactly? Almost all significant blockbusters feature misogynistic dialogue. In a study of nearly 700 films from Bollywood, the Hindi film industry, between 1950-2020, there was a decreased trend of gender bias. However, the potential scope for mitigation still exists as compared to global contemporary standards.

If the board truly cared about protecting Indian values, wouldn't they focus on eliminating content that normalises violence against women? Wouldn't they prioritise removing scenes that teach young men that persistence in the face of rejection is romantic?

The current system isn't protecting Indian culture - it's destroying it. It's time for the CBFC to grow up and recognise that love isn't the enemy. Misogyny is.

Until then, Indian cinema will continue to be a global embarrassment, where Superman can't kiss Lois Lane, but heroes can stalk heroines with impunity. The question isn't whether we can handle a 30-second kiss; it's whether we can handle the truth about our own hypocrisy.

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Image Courtesy: Freepik/IMDb