Sanskar strikes again: John Wick 3 censored in India

If you are one of those who are looking forward to the Baba Yaga's third outing in John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, prepare to be disappointed as the sanskari censor has struck again with the CBFC ordering several cuts to the film.

In the report available on the CBFC website, John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, has been rated 'A' for adults with several mutes and a significant cut - which comes with a spoiler for the film as well.

Apart from the standard suite of blurs and mutes and additions - profanity, visual gestures, all mention and presence of alcohol and the ever-present anti-smoking label, the film is also sees a number of cuts, with one cut "reducing revenge and escape violence" by 50%, amounting to roughly 3 minutes of footage thrown on the cutting floor and another scene of "graphic violence" involving knives and shooting. The effective runtime of John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum in India is 129 minutes as opposed to 131 minutes of the international release.

The film's predecessor was equally cut by the censor when it launched in India in 2017, with much presence of blood and violence was cut by almost half, bringing the run time of the film to 116 minutes from the 122 of its original runtime.

Interestingly, the first John Wick film had 2 releases in India: an uncut 'A' rated release for adults and a cut-down 'UA' release for general audience. The name of the applicant for the first film is PVR Pictures, while the applicant for the second and third films is Rajesh Balijepalli, who according to job site LinkedIn is an admin for PVR Limited.

John Wick 3: Parabellum releases in India on Friday, May 17. However, with the censor board seeing fit that adults can't be trusted with what they can watch - as evident from the cuts in the film - the question arises if it will be worth paying the admission price.