‘Obsession’ sparks CBFC debate as movie released with 38 seconds of cuts; fans ask, 'What’s the point of an A certificate?'

Hollywood horror sensation 'Obsession' has finally arrived in Indian cinemas, but the film's release has been accompanied by a fresh censorship debate. Ahead of its theatrical debut, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) granted the film an 'A' certificate, while also directing the makers to make several modifications. As India Today stated, certification details show the board asked for a 24-second reduction in a scene featuring extreme violence. Additionally, a 14-second sequence depicting graphic sexual activity was completely removed. A visual containing nudity was also replaced before approval was granted.In total, around 38 seconds of content were altered or removed from the film. Following these changes, 'Obsession' received its censor certificate on May 4. The approved runtime of the film stands at 1 hour, 50 minutes and 29 seconds.Soon after the film opened in India, several moviegoers took to social media to express frustration over the edits. Many questioned why a film already restricted to adult audiences required further censorship.One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “What’s Wrong with CBFC? CBFC has trimmed 38 Seconds of Footage from Obsession and given it an ‘A’ Certificate. What’s the point of giving an ‘A’ certificate if you have to trim and mute the sequences? First with Superman, then with the Dhurandhar franchise and now with Obsession. CBFC considers ADULTS immature enough that they can’t watch Horror in a jam-packed theatre. Too much interference (sic).”Another viewer felt the edits impacted the storytelling, posting, “I liked Obsession. Right up until the climax, it has one of the most jarring CBFC cuts I've seen in a movie that resets characters entirely and leaves you wondering what just happened (sic).”The criticism wasn't limited to X. Instagram users also voiced their disappointment, with one commenting, “I have stopped going to the movies and stopped spending on OTT subscriptions because of this very reason.”Another sarcastically questioned the logic behind censoring content in an adults-only film, writing, “So there are things that even adults cannot watch? Then who qualifies to watch these scenes? Aliens?”While censorship has dominated conversations in India, 'Obsession' has been making headlines globally for an entirely different reason. Written and directed by Curry Barker, the supernatural horror film stars Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette and revolves around a man whose wish for his childhood friend to fall in love with him takes a terrifying turn after he acquires a mysterious supernatural toy.The film emerged as an unexpected box office phenomenon following its international release on May 15. It has already grossed over 90 million dollars worldwide, including nearly $68 million from North America alone.One of the most remarkable aspects of 'Obsession's' theatrical run has been its second-weekend performance. Instead of witnessing the usual drop in collections, the horror title reportedly earned more during its second weekend than it did during its opening frame, a rare feat in modern box office history. Commenting on the film's extraordinary trajectory, Comscore chief box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian told The Hollywood Reporter, “A second weekend jump nearing 40 per cent is virtually unprecedented in the annals of modern box office tracking, and there really is no direct apples-to-apples comparison available.”The film's global success, coupled with positive word-of-mouth and online discussions, has generated considerable interest among Indian audiences. Advance bookings reflected this growing curiosity, with horror fans eager to experience one of the year's most talked-about sleeper hits. Now, as 'Obsession' continues to attract viewers worldwide, its Indian run is at the centre of two parallel conversations: its impressive box office performance and the controversy surrounding the CBFC-mandated cuts.