Santosh OTT release date in India: Here's when and where you can finally stream Shahana Goswami's powerful police procedural

After CBFC delays, acclaimed police drama Santosh (starring Shahana Goswami) will stream on Lionsgate Play on October 17, 2025. The film addresses corruption, caste, and gender in rural North India.

Shahana Goswami in a still from Santosh

Premiering for local audiences on Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium), the internationally acclaimed police procedural crime drama Santosh will finally make its way into OTT after an indefinite theatrical delay in India. On October 17, 2025, viewers will be able to see the highly renowned film online.

Plot and cast of Santosh

Santosh is a British-Indian film written and directed by Sandhya Suri. Shahana Goswami plays the lead role, a young widow who takes over her late husband's position as a police constable in North India's rural badlands. The story follows Santosh as she becomes entangled in a complicated investigation into a Dalit teenager's murder and rape, which compels her to face gender dynamics, systematic corruption, and caste within the police department and society at large. Sunita Rajwar, renowned for her role in Panchayat portrays Inspector Sharma, Santosh's mentor.

The film, which was made in a collaborative effort by France, Germany, India, and the UK, had a successful premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. The 78th British Academy Film Awards included it among its nominees, and the National Board of Review ranked it one of the top five international films of 2024. Additionally, Santosh made it onto the shortlist for the 97th Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film in December, serving as the official entry for the United Kingdom.

ALSO READ: Oscars 2025: Santosh makes it to the top 15 in International Feature Film category - Here's everything we know so far

Obstacles to theatrical release in India

The intended release date for Santosh in Indian theatres was January 10, 2025 following PVR Inox Pictures' acquisition of the distribution rights. However, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) delayed and subsequently obstructed the release. The film reportedly depicted difficult subjects such as police brutality, caste inequality, misogyny, and Islamophobia without hesitating, which led to the stalemate. The filmmakers felt they could not comply with the CBFC's requirement for major changes to scenes that depicted police wrongdoing and societal issues without diminishing the film's narrative and integrity.

Suri voiced her displeasure with the ban, pointing out that the topics discussed were not new to Indian cinema. Originally conceived as a documentary on sexual abuse, the film evolved into a fictional movie that expands on the moral dilemmas encountered by a female constable, drawing influence from the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder protest.

Overcoming censorship

Lionsgate Play's acquisition gets around the problems with theatrical censoring, so the film can reach its target audience in India. Goswami expressed her enthusiasm for the film to be watched domestically after its global recognition, calling it a "beautifully written story" that holds up a mirror to society. An important milestone for the critically acclaimed film will be its digital distribution on October 17, 2025, marking the end of a year-long struggle for its release in the country of its origin.

FAQs:

Q: When and where will the film Santosh release in India?

A: The film Santosh is scheduled for its digital premiere on the OTT platform Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium) in India on October 17, 2025.

Q: Who are the main actors in the film Santosh?

A: The film stars Shahana Goswami in the titular lead role of Santosh Saini, a police constable. It also features Sunita Rajwar (Panchayat fame) as Inspector Geeta Sharma in a pivotal role.

Q: Who is the director of the film Santosh?

A: The film Santosh is written and directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, marking her debut fiction feature.

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