Anurag Kashyap SLAMS CBFC for imposing smoking warnings in ‘Sinners’: ‘It destroys the immersive experience of the film’ |
Anurag Kashyap has once again voiced his frustration against Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). This time, he’s criticising the mandatory health warnings shown during screenings of the global horror hit Sinners. Speaking to IndieWire, Kashyap expressed his displeasure with the intrusive disclaimers, which have annoyed many viewers.
Disrupting the Immersive Experience
In a mood-driven film like Sinners, Anurag believes that the smoking and drinking warnings disrupt the immersive experience, ruining the atmosphere and tension built by the filmmaker. Viewers on platforms like X have echoed similar sentiments, describing the anti-smoking ads shown before the film and during the intermission as “arbitrary” and “disruptive.”A Long-Standing Issue with CBFC
This isn’t the first time Kashyap has clashed with the CBFC over smoking disclaimers. Nearly a decade ago, he took issue with the Board’s requirement to include them in his film Ugly. Despite taking the matter to court, the case dragged on, the film was leaked, and he eventually had to release it with the disclaimers still in place.
Global Success of Sinners
Sinners, which has quickly become a global sensation, is receiving widespread acclaim for its nuanced take on themes like racism, segregation, and religion, all presented through the horror genre. The film has earned $175 million worldwide, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 2025. Directed by newcomers, it follows twins Smoke and Stack as they return to their Mississippi hometown seeking a new beginning, only to encounter an ancient evil in the form of vampires. The film stars Jack O’Connell, Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, and Saul Williams.
Tom Cruise‘s Endorsement
Recently, Tom Cruise also gave his endorsement to Sinners, encouraging audiences to watch it in IMAX to fully immerse themselves in its grand scale and atmosphere.
