The India Story is set to open on July 24.
It received its U/A 16+ certificate on July 22, just 48 hours before the scheduled release.
CBFC orders extensive dialogue cuts
The Central Board of Film Certification asked for more than 20 cuts, focusing mainly on spoken lines. A detailed disclaimer was added at both the start and end of the film, increasing its length by 50 seconds.
One of the changes reduced the percentage of farmers shown in the story from 65% to 25%. Several phrases that the board deemed offensive toward the farming community were also altered.
References to the Endosulfan tragedy in Kerala were flagged as inaccurate and were required to be modified. In addition, a scene in the second half containing offensive language and a courtroom segment at the two‑hour mark were asked to be revised.
Specific dialogues were either edited or removed. The line ‘Munh mein dande daal’ was modified, while the phrase ‘Desh ke kisaan desh ke.......Khila ke maar rahe hain’ was deleted, shaving 20 seconds off the runtime. The terms ‘Kisaan aatankvadi’ and ‘Sarkar deshdrohi’ were also changed.
Runtime trimmed and release details
Overall, the board censored 4 minutes and 27 seconds of footage. The certificate now lists the film’s length as 130.13 minutes, which translates to 2 hours, 10 minutes and 13 seconds.
Among the removed material were a 15‑second opening dialogue about farmers making up 25% of the population, a 14‑second segment describing mothers’ milk contaminated with heavy chemicals, and an eight‑second exchange beginning with ‘Aapko jab licence’ and ending with ‘Naya Bharat hai’.
Other deletions included a 20‑second piece that began with ‘Apni RDX waali’ and a 40‑second discussion of Endosulfan in the second half. A post‑interval monologue lasting 1 minute and 20 seconds, which praised farmers as ‘annadata’, was also cut.
Visuals showing a ‘cancer train’ travelling from Bhatinda to Bikaner, along with the accompanying announcement dialogue, were required to be altered. The cumulative effect of these edits reshapes the film’s narrative flow while keeping the core story intact.
Frequently asked questions
What cuts did the CBFC order for The India Story?
The CBFC ordered more than 20 dialogue cuts, removing specific lines and scenes—including a 15‑second opening dialogue, a 14‑second segment about contaminated milk, an eight‑second exchange, a 20‑second piece, a 40‑second Endosulfan discussion, and a 1‑minute‑20‑second post‑interval monologue—totaling 4 minutes and 27 seconds.
How many minutes were removed from The India Story?
A total of 4 minutes and 27 seconds of footage was trimmed from the film.
When is The India Story releasing in theatres?
The film is scheduled to open in theatres on July 24.
What is the final runtime of The India Story after the cuts?
After the cuts, the film’s length is listed as 130.13 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes and 13 seconds).
What certification did The India Story receive?
The India Story received a U/A 16+ certificate on July 22, just 48 hours before its release.
