India has a long history of banning films for various reasons including political, religious, and cultural sensitivities. Yet, many of these banned films are now easily accessible on various OTT platforms. Whether it's because of their bold themes or controversial content, these films have found a new life online. Here’s a list of notable movies that were once banned but are now available for streaming:
Fire (Prime Video): Starring Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi, this film faced opposition for its portrayal of a lesbian relationship prior to the repeal of Article 377 but is now available on Prime Video.
LOEV (Netflix): A film about gay relationships that faced challenges upon release in 2017, now streaming on Netflix.
Unfreedom (Netflix): This movie intertwines the lives of a liberal Muslim scholar and a young lesbian in two separate narratives, available on Netflix despite its ban.
Black Friday (Disney+ Hotstar): Anurag Kashyap’s film based on the Mumbai bombings was banned for its sensitive content but is now streaming on Hotstar.
Water (YouTube): Directed by Deepa Mehta, this film about the plight of widows in India was banned due to its critical view of traditional practices, now available on YouTube.
Gandu (Netflix): This film was banned for its explicit language and scenes but is currently on Netflix.
Inshallah, Football (YouTube): This film tells the story of a Kashmiri boy aspiring to play football in Brazil but facing visa denials due to his father being labeled a terrorist. It’s available on YouTube.
Parzania (Hotstar): Centered on the Gujarat riots, this film was banned but can now be watched on Hotstar.
Bandit Queen (Prime Video): Based on the life of the infamous bandit Phoolan Devi, this film faced bans but is now available on Prime Video.
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