‘Punjab ’95’ to ‘Chakda ’Xpress’: Films Everyone Is Talking About, But Are Yet To Release In India

For an Industry that releases hundreds of films every single year across languages, with huge budgets, and platforms, it's easy to assume that anything completed will eventually find its way to the theatres or streaming. Yet some of the most talked about movies that create buzz across the world find themselves in a limbo where they do not get a release in the country that easily. finished, festival-travelled, critically discussed, sometimes even cleared for release, but still unable to secure a meaningful run in India.

The reasons could be many, battle with the censor board, controversy, or just the fact that there are no takers. Much like Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy that is finally getting a release on Z5 this week, and managed to build a formidable global reputation long before most Indian audiences could watch it. Here are seven such films that are ready, acclaimed, and persistently discussed, yet remain frustratingly out of reach for mainstream viewers in India.

Punjab '95
Dir. Honey Trehan
Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky

This biographical drama based on the life of human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra has become emblematic of the collision between cinema and state sensitivity. The film reportedly chronicles Khalra’s investigation into extrajudicial killings in Punjab during the insurgency years, material that is both historically significant and politically delicate. After premiering internationally to strong responses, “Punjab 95” faced extensive cut demands from the Central Board of Film Certification. Reports suggested the requested edits would fundamentally alter the film’s narrative thrust, prompting the makers to hold back rather than release a compromised version. Meanwhile, the film’s stature has only grown, with Dosanjh’s involvement ensuring sustained public interest. Each passing month without a release deepens the sense that the film has become less a commercial product and more a cultural flashpoint waiting for resolution.

Tees
Dir. Dibakar Banerjee
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Huma Qureshi, Manoj Bajpayee (reported ensemble)

Dibakar Banerjee’s “Tees” occupies a near-mythical position in contemporary Hindi cinema discourse. Completed years ago and scarcely screened publicly, the film is believed to engage directly with questions of nationalism, dissent, and the psychological landscape of modern India. Banerjee, known for politically charged work that still operates within mainstream grammar, has suggested that the film’s subject matter makes distribution difficult in the current environment. Unlike projects stalled by certification alone, “Tees” appears trapped in a more diffuse zone of institutional hesitation, where no formal ban exists, yet no clear path forward emerges. The absence of concrete information has only intensified intrigue. In an era of constant content flow, a finished film simply disappearing feels almost uncanny, transforming Tees into a symbol of the stories that fall through the cracks of an increasingly cautious industry.

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Santosh
Dir. Sandhya Suri
Cast: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar

Premiering at Cannes to considerable acclaim, “Santosh” exemplifies how international success does not automatically translate into domestic accessibility. The film reportedly follows a widowed woman who joins the police force and becomes entangled in the investigation of a young girl’s murder, unfolding into a layered exploration of caste, gender, and institutional power. Critics abroad praised its unflinching gaze and controlled storytelling, positioning it as one of the most important Indian-set films of the year. Yet these very qualities may complicate its release prospects at home. Films that interrogate systemic violence without offering catharsis often struggle to find commercial footing, especially when they lack conventional star power. As a result, “Santosh” risks becoming another case where global prestige coexists with local invisibility.

Dilli Dark
Dir. Dibakar Das Roy
Cast: Samuel Abiola Robinson, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan. 

This sharply observed satire about racism and immigration in Delhi offers a perspective rarely explored in Indian cinema: that of an African migrant navigating everyday prejudice in the capital. The film’s dark humour and confrontational tone earned enthusiastic responses on the festival circuit, where audiences were receptive to its uncomfortable truths. However, its niche subject and absence of mainstream stars make distributors wary of committing to a wide release. In a theatrical landscape dominated by spectacle and franchise logic, smaller films that rely on word of mouth face shrinking opportunities. “Dilli Dark” thus lingers in circulation without a clear entry point into the commercial ecosystem, emblematic of how structural economics can sideline even widely praised work.

Section 84
Dir. Ribhu Dasgupta
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Diana Penty, Nimrat Kaur, Abhishek Banerjee

Unlike most films on this list, “Section 84” features one of India’s most enduring stars, whose presence typically guarantees visibility. The courtroom drama reportedly centres on themes of justice, memory, and moral complexity territory Amitabh Bachchan has navigated powerfully in the past. Yet the film has remained conspicuously absent from release schedules, suggesting that even star-driven projects are not immune to shifting market calculations. Mid-budget adult dramas increasingly struggle to secure prime theatrical windows dominated by event films, while streaming platforms have grown selective about acquisitions. The result is a project that appears complete and ready, yet perpetually postponed.

The Rapist
Dir. Aparna Sen
Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Arjun Rampal, Tanmay Dhanania

Winner of major honours at the Busan International Film Festival, this searing drama drew widespread critical acclaim for its rigorous examination of sexual violence, trauma, and ethical ambiguity. Rather than functioning as a conventional social drama, the film interrogates the psychological aftermath of assault and the uncomfortable questions surrounding justice and revenge. Such material, while artistically significant, can be commercially daunting. Distributors often fear both audience discomfort and controversy, particularly when the narrative refuses easy moral closure. Consequently, one of the most lauded performances of recent years remains largely unseen by the broader public, reinforcing the gap between festival recognition and domestic distribution.

Chakda ‘Xpress
Dir: Prosit Roy
Cast: Anushka Sharma, Renuka Shahane, Dibyendu Bhattacharya

If Section 84 represents the mystery of a star-led legal drama, "Chakda ‘Xpress"  is the definitive case study of a streaming fallout. The biopic of Jhulan Goswami, one of the fastest female bowlers in cricket history, was intended to be Anushka Sharma’s grand acting comeback. After seven months of grueling physical training and a shoot that spanned India and the UK, the film was completed and slated for a late 2023 release on Netflix to coincide with the Cricket World Cup. There is no update on the film and the makers have maintained radio silence ever since.