- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Santosh OTT Release: After facing several months of delay and censorship issues, the much-discussed film Santosh, starring Shahana Goswami, is finally set for its Indian OTT premiere. Directed and written by Sandhya Suri, Santosh is a British-Indian co-production that delves deep into corruption, caste, and gender inequality in rural North India. Alongside Shahana Goswami, who plays the titular character, Santosh features Sunita Rajwar, best known for her role in Panchayat, as Inspector Geeta Sharma.
The powerful police procedural will stream on Lionsgate Play via OTTplay Premium on October 17, 2025. The film follows Santosh, a young widow who takes over her late husband’s position as a police constable. Her life changes dramatically when she becomes involved in the investigation of a Dalit teenager’s rape and murder, a case that forces her to face the harsh realities of caste discrimination, gender bias, and institutional corruption within the police force.
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Santosh movie earned worldwide acclaim after premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. It was later shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards under the Best International Feature Film category, representing the United Kingdom. The film also received nominations at the 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and was listed among the Top 5 International Films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.
Meanwhile, the film was initially scheduled for a theatrical release in India on January 10, 2025, after PVR Inox Pictures acquired its distribution rights. However, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly demanded several major cuts, citing scenes that portrayed police brutality, caste inequality, and misogyny. The filmmakers refused to make the suggested changes, arguing that doing so would compromise the story’s authenticity and message. As a result, the film’s theatrical release was indefinitely postponed.
Director Sandhya Suri expressed disappointment over the censorship issues, stating that Santosh only sheds light on subjects that Indian cinema has addressed for decades. Originally planned as a documentary about sexual violence, the project evolved into a fictional narrative inspired by the social unrest that followed the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. Additionally, Shahana Goswami shared her excitement about the release, calling Santosh “a story that holds up a mirror to society” and praising Suri’s direction for its honesty and sensitivity.