Two Hindi-film releases have shown how differently the same phrase — “politically sensitive” — can play out at the certification stage. Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi had to change course more than once. 4 Rivers 6 Ranges, a Tibetan-resistance story, got its Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate in a single step.
The two films, side by side
Bollywood Hungama has been tracking Maatrubhumi since early 2026. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film was first called Battle Of Galwan and is built around the 2020 India-China conflict. With India-China relations improving in recent months, reports say the government had reservations about the content. The team reportedly reshot portions and added fictional elements, romance and backstory. Even after those changes, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting still needed a lot of back-and-forth before the film was cleared.
4 Rivers 6 Ranges, written, produced and directed by Shenpenn Khymsar, tells the story of ordinary Tibetans who stood up against Chinese forces during the occupation and helped the Dalai Lama reach the Indian border during his 1959 escape. The film released in cinemas on September 18, 2026.
A different CBFC route
Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that 4 Rivers 6 Ranges was passed by the CBFC on April 29, 2026, with a U/A 13+ certificate. The film was cleared by the Examining Committee itself, without being referred to the Revising Committee. That is significant for a film with such a politically charged backdrop, especially when Maatrubhumi reportedly had to jump through hoops.
The timeline is easy to follow:
- April 29, 2026: 4 Rivers 6 Ranges gets U/A 13+ from the CBFC Examining Committee.
- September 18, 2026: The film arrives in cinemas.
- 2026, ongoing: Maatrubhumi is cleared after reported reshoots and government back-and-forth.
The CBFC step the film avoided
When a film goes to the Revising Committee, it usually means the first committee could not settle on a certificate, adding time and uncertainty. 4 Rivers 6 Ranges avoided that step. The source also notes that Shenpenn Khymsar shot in Nepal under a dummy title, The Himalayan Robin Hood, and wrapped in 19 days once local authorities learned the real subject. The Dalai Lama later watched the last 30 minutes, which show the 1959 escape.
Chinese state-controlled media attacked the film, accusing its makers of promoting separatism. Still, the formal Indian certification process did not escalate.
Why this matters for fans
This is not just a process story. Maatrubhumi deals with a recent border clash and one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars, so the stakes around perception are high. 4 Rivers 6 Ranges is rooted in 1959, which may have made the certification easier to complete at the first committee level.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the narrator. Shenpenn Khymsar told ThePrint that when he showed Nawazuddin the rough cut, the actor said he had goosebumps and agreed with the line, “Chal main karta hoon yaar, koi baat nahi.” Khymsar is also developing Karna: Running To Stand Still with Nawazuddin.
If you want to compare the two, 4 Rivers 6 Ranges is already in cinemas. Maatrubhumi’s release date will be the next signal for how that film’s clearance story ends.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com