Maatrubhumi vs 4 Rivers 6 Ranges: Why Did Two Films With China-Related Themes Face Different CBFC Journeys?

Two films dealing with sensitive aspects of China’s history and its relationship with neighbouring regions have followed markedly different paths towards Indian audiences. Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, inspired by the 2020 India-China clash in the Galwan Valley, has faced prolonged uncertainty over its certification and release. Meanwhile, the Tibetan historical drama 4 Rivers 6 Ranges reportedly received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in April 2026 and subsequently reached Indian cinemas.

The contrast has prompted questions about how films dealing with politically sensitive subjects are assessed in India. However, the difference in their journeys does not automatically establish that the certification board applied inconsistent standards. The films have different subject matter, production histories and release timelines, and the public information available does not provide a complete account of the decisions involved.

Maatrubhumi: From Battle of Galwan to a Delayed Release

Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, starring Salman Khan and Chitrangda Singh, was originally announced under the title Battle of Galwan. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film draws inspiration from the 2020 confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley.

The project attracted attention because of its subject matter and its portrayal of a real military conflict. Its release plans subsequently changed, and the film was renamed Maatrubhumi.

Published reports in 2026 attributed the delay partly to concerns about the film’s treatment of India-China relations. Reports in October also claimed that a revised version had received a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after changes to its presentation of the relationship between the two countries.

That reported ministry clearance was not the same as CBFC certification. The film still needed to complete the relevant certification process before a theatrical release could be confirmed. The reported changes to the film have not been documented in enough detail publicly to establish precisely which scenes, dialogue or narrative elements were altered.

The distinction is important: a reported government clearance at one stage does not mean a film has completed every approval required for public exhibition.

4 Rivers 6 Ranges: A Tibetan Story Reaches Indian Cinemas

4 Rivers 6 Ranges takes a different historical approach to China-related subject matter. Directed by Shenpenn Khymsar, the film explores the Tibetan resistance movement and the struggle of Chushi Gangdruk fighters, including their role in events surrounding the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet in 1959.

The film presents a Tibetan perspective on a chapter of history that remains politically sensitive. Its subject includes resistance against Chinese forces and the experiences of Tibetan communities during a period of upheaval.

The film reportedly received CBFC clearance on April 29, 2026, with a U/A 13+ certificate. It subsequently opened in Indian cinemas on September 18, 2026.

Its release demonstrated that a film presenting a critical historical account involving China could reach Indian audiences. However, that outcome alone does not establish that the certification process for Maatrubhumi should have been identical.

The two projects differ in their historical periods, narrative focus and production circumstances. Those distinctions need to be considered before drawing conclusions about the reasons behind their different certification journeys.

Why the Comparison Has Raised Questions?

The contrast between the films is striking because both deal with subjects connected to China, yet their routes to Indian cinemas have differed.

Maatrubhumi centres on a recent military confrontation between India and China. Its story concerns Indian soldiers, a bilateral border conflict and events that remain part of contemporary diplomatic and public discourse.

4 Rivers 6 Ranges, by contrast, focuses on Tibetan resistance and historical events linked to the struggle over Tibet. Its narrative is rooted in a different period and political context.

These differences may be relevant to how each film was reviewed, but the available information does not establish that they were the decisive factors in the certification outcomes.

A meaningful comparison would require more than examining the films’ broad themes. It would need reliable information about the versions submitted for certification, the specific issues considered by the board, any changes requested, and the reasons for the decisions. Without that information, attributing the different outcomes to political pressure or inconsistent treatment would be premature.

What Role Does the CBFC Play?

The CBFC examines films submitted for public exhibition in India and determines their certification under the applicable rules. Its decisions can depend on the content of the submitted version, the applicable certification guidelines and the circumstances of the individual submission.

A film’s subject alone does not reveal the outcome of that process. Two films that touch on the same country or political issue can differ significantly in their scenes, dialogue, historical framing and presentation.

It is also important to distinguish the CBFC’s role from that of other government departments. Reports of a ministry-issued no-objection certificate for Maatrubhumi concerned a separate stage of the process. Such a clearance should not be confused with the final certification required for theatrical exhibition.

For the same reason, the reported clearance of 4 Rivers 6 Ranges cannot, on its own, explain why Maatrubhumi experienced delays.

Does the Difference Prove a Double Standard?

Not on the available evidence.

The different outcomes naturally invite scrutiny, especially when both films involve politically sensitive subjects connected to China. But a conclusion that one film was treated more favourably because of its political message would require evidence linking the decisions to that message.

That evidence has not been established by the public reporting reviewed for this article. The exact deliberations behind the CBFC’s decision on 4 Rivers 6 Ranges and the full reasons for the delays surrounding Maatrubhumi are not sufficiently documented here to support a definitive explanation.

The more useful question is whether the certification process is transparent enough for filmmakers and audiences to understand how decisions are reached. Clear information about the status of a submission, the reasons for requested changes and the basis of a final decision would help the public assess such comparisons more fairly.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The contrasting journeys of Maatrubhumi and 4 Rivers 6 Ranges raise a legitimate question about transparency in film certification. One film, inspired by a recent India-China border clash, has faced prolonged uncertainty; the other, centred on Tibetan resistance against Chinese forces, reportedly received certification and reached cinemas.

Yet the comparison should not be reduced to a simple claim that the CBFC favoured one political perspective over another. The films tell different stories, and the public record does not provide enough detail to establish the precise reasons for their different outcomes.

What deserves attention is the need for a clearer public understanding of certification decisions, particularly when films deal with history, national identity and international relations. Until more specific information becomes available, the contrast is a reason to ask questions-not proof of a predetermined answer.

Sources & Verification

The article draws on published reporting about the films’ subject matter, certification status and release timelines. The distinction between confirmed developments and reported explanations is maintained throughout.

• Maatrubhumi’s reported ministry clearance: Published coverage in early October 2026 stated that the revised film had reportedly received a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The report attributed this information to an unnamed source; it should not be presented as an independently verified official announcement.

• Maatrubhumi’s certification status: Reports published in October described the CBFC process as pending. A report dated October 27 said the film was still awaiting screening, meaning its final certification and release could not be treated as confirmed.

• 4 Rivers 6 Ranges certification and release: The film’s reported CBFC clearance on April 29, 2026, its U/A 13+ certificate and its September 18 Indian release are documented in the available film coverage. These details should ideally be cross-checked against the certificate and official release records before publication.

• Historical context: The Associated Press describes 4 Rivers 6 Ranges as a Tibetan historical drama about the Chushi Gangdruk resistance and the struggle surrounding the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet.

• Editorial conclusion: The available sources establish different reported certification journeys, but they do not prove that political bias or inconsistent standards caused the difference. That conclusion would require official explanations or further documentary evidence.