The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has made several cuts to the Hollywood film Supergirl before its release. The film has been given a U/A 16+ certificate, but only after the board ordered specific audio and visual modifications.
According to Bollywood Hungama, the CBFC asked for the word ‘screwed’ to be deleted from the film. Similarly, the words ‘b***h’ and ‘balls’ were also ordered to be muted. Another word that faced the same treatment was ‘wh**e’.
Middle Finger Visual Removed from Supergirl
In addition to the audio changes, the CBFC also ordered the removal of a visual element. The middle finger gesture shown in the film was asked to be deleted. This is a common target for Indian censors, who often remove such gestures from both Hollywood and Indian films.
Special Screening and Context of the Cuts
Interestingly, 30 minutes of footage from Supergirl was screened exclusively for select fans on June 20 in Mumbai. A representative from Bollywood Hungama attended that screening. During the screening, one of the scenes shown had a dialogue containing the word ‘wh**e’. The report notes that the word was uttered by the lead protagonists in a comical context. Despite the humorous tone, the CBFC still ordered it to be muted.
"It is uttered by the lead protagonists in a comical context." — Bollywood Hungama
Our Take: A Predictable but Frustrating Pattern
In our view, the CBFC’s decision to mute these words and delete the middle finger visual is not surprising, but it is frustrating. The board continues to apply a blanket approach to censorship, removing words and gestures without considering the context in which they are used. The fact that the word ‘wh**e’ was used in a comical scene by the lead characters shows that it was not meant to be offensive or harmful. Yet, the CBFC treated it the same way as any other profanity.
To put it plainly, this kind of censorship does not protect audiences — it only limits creative expression. For a film that has already been given a U/A 16+ rating, which allows viewers aged 16 and above to watch it with parental guidance, such heavy-handed cuts seem unnecessary. Adult audiences are capable of understanding context and handling mild language. The CBFC should focus on genuinely harmful content rather than muting words that are used in a lighthearted manner.
