Monkey Man: CBFC obstructs Dev Patel’s action thriller; deleted scenes reveal scathing commentary on religion and politics; CAA protests: Report

Back in April 2024, Bollywood Hungama reported that the movie wasn’t banned in India. However, it was also revealed CBFC was yet to watch the film.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

June 24, 2024 - 2:38 PM IST

British-Indian actor Dev Patel's directorial debut, the action thriller Monkey Man, set in India, remains unseen in the country despite its global release in April 2024. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), responsible for approving films for theatrical release, has not scheduled a screening for its advisory panel. Back in April 2024, Bollywood Hungama reported that the movie wasn’t banned in India. However, it was also revealed that CBFC was yet to watch the film. Interestingly, as we head towards July, there is no news on its theatrical release in India, seemingly confirming that the board has effectively sidelined the movie without a formal ban.

Monkey Man: CBFC obstructs Dev Patel’s action thriller; deleted scenes reveal scathing commentary on religion and politics; CAA protests: Report

The Hindu publication revealed that Universal Studios already made the cuts to the film, removing scenes that explicitly highlighted the connection between religion and politics in India. The globally released version lacked the said scenes and the studio had even altered the colour of the political banner in the movie to red, which was earlier saffron in colour.

It was reported earlier that Universal had initially planned an Indian release for April 19, but the film remains unreleased. As per the report in The Hindu, a source revealed that the CBFC has yet to set a date for the Examining Committee to view Monkey Man. Cinematograph (Certification) Rules mandate a five-day deadline for referring a film to the Examining Committee. This deadline passed in May 2024, yet the censors haven't reviewed the film.

Makarand Deshpande, who plays a pivotal role in the movie, revealed back in April 2024 that an important scene featuring him was edited out, leaving him heartbroken as he considered it the "soul of the film." He shared his experience during an interview, stating that Patel himself informed him about the deletion before the US premiere. Patel reportedly apologized and explained that the scene, while a favourite, had to be cut for ‘political reasons’.

Makarand said in an interview with Siddharth Kanan, “For the premiere of Monkey Man, I went to California. Before that, Dev Patel said he wants to have a word with me. He said, ‘That’s the scene I love the most, but we had to edit it for some reason… for some political (reason)… you understand’ and he just mumbled. I kept on looking at him and said, ‘Dev, wasn’t that scene the philosophy of your film?’ He was like, ‘Oh yes, man, but you will still like your role, I am sorry, but you will like it.’”

“When I saw the film, I said no problem. But I know that scene — woh agar rehta toh kya maza aata. It had that punch, an edited scene won’t matter to the audience, but it matters to the actor. In my understanding, it was the rooh (soul) of the film, it may not be for Dev. It is getting a lot of critical acclaim, might (be) in the Oscar race later and is like their Satya,” he added.

As per the latest report by The Hindu, they obtained and reviewed these deleted scenes, which are likely to be included as bonus features on an upcoming Blu-ray release. The deleted scene depicts Deshpande's character, Baba Shakti, meeting a gangster-turned-politician from the ruling party's fictional counterpart, the Sovereignty Party, described as a "saffron party" mirroring the rise of Hindu nationalism in India. The politician criticizes Baba Shakti, calling him a fraud, and highlights the broken promises made by the party's leader. Baba Shakti counters by emphasizing the power of faith, contrasting it with the politician's reliance on violence. The scene ends with a corrupt police officer killing the politician, underlining the murky nexus between religion, politics, and violence.

It is further revealed that another scene was deleted from the film's climax which features a child's voice reciting a prayer as the camera pans over the destruction caused by the protagonist's revenge rampage. This scene concludes with a shot of a painting of the Hindu god Hanuman and the slain Baba Shakti at the protagonist's feet, hinting at a potential religious undercurrent to the violence.

The report further reveals that the third deleted scene showcases a news report mentioning crackdowns on the LGBTQ community, followed by real-life footage from protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a controversial legislation that sparked nationwide protests in India. The theatrical release of the film includes a brief glimpse of the CAA protests.

After international acclaim at the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024 film festival, the film's Indian premiere, was initially scheduled for April 19, and has been delayed due to the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) clearance procedures. While reports suggested a ban wasn't in place, a source close to the production clarified that the CBFC's Examining Committee hadn't even begun reviewing the film.

Monkey Man takes inspiration from the mighty Hanuman, a Hindu deity revered for his immense strength and unwavering devotion. The film stars Patel himself as Kid, a young man trapped in the brutal world of an underground fight club. Disguised by a gorilla mask, Kid endures relentless beatings for a pittance, all while harbouring a simmering rage. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the city's elite circles. Fueled by a traumatic past and the enigma of his scarred hands, Kid embarks on a violent quest for retribution against those who inflicted pain upon him.

Monkey Man’s original story is brought to life through a co-written screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee. The film boasts a diverse international cast alongside Patel. Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala, Pitobash Tripathy, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Sikandar Kher, and the recently disappointed Makarand Deshpande are just a few names gracing the screen.

Monkey Man is a collaborative effort between several production houses. Patel himself serves as a producer alongside Jomon Thomas. Adding star power is Academy Award winner Jordan Peele, who joins forces with established names like Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Basil Iwanyk.

Jonathan Fuhrman, Natalya Pavchinskya, Aaron L. Gilbert, and a team of executive producers further bolster the film's production muscle. Monkey Man is presented by Universal Pictures in association with various production companies, including Bron Studios, Thunder Road Films, Monkeypaw Productions, Minor Realm/S'Ya Concept Productions, WME Independent, and Creative Wealth Media.