As debates around censorship and content restrictions intensify in India, these recent films have reignited conversations around cinematic freedom.

After ‘Sardaar Ji 3’, starring Diljit Dosanjh was banned over the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, another film headlined by Dosanjh has now come under scrutiny.

Director Honey Trehan’s ‘Punjab ’95’, a biographical drama based on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, is the latest project to find itself mired in controversy.

In a separate development, the Delhi High Court has stalled the release of actor Vijay Raaz’s ‘Udaipur Files’, a film inspired by the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur.

While these films remain in limbo, several others that once faced bans or censorship have found second lives on OTT platforms.

Here are five such titles currently available for streaming:

Fire (1996) – Available on Apple TV

A powerful entry in Deepa Mehta’s trilogy, ‘Fire’ follows the emotional and physical bond that develops between two women, Radha (Shabana Azmi) and Sita (Nandita Das), who are trapped in loveless marriages and restrictive traditions.

The film challenges patriarchal structures and explores identity, desire, and autonomy, using the metaphor of ‘fire’ to symbolise defiance and liberation.

Black Friday (2004) – Available on Google Play

Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Black Friday’ is an intense, journalistic reconstruction of the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts.

Based on Hussain Zaidi’s book of the same name, the film combines investigative depth with compelling storytelling, depicting the events leading up to the blasts, their orchestration, and the expansive police investigation that followed.

Parzania (2005) – Available on JioCinema/Disney+ Hotstar

Drawing from a real-life incident, ‘Parzania’ tells the heartbreaking story of a Parsi boy who went missing during the 2002 Gujarat riots, one of the most devastating episodes of communal violence in modern Indian history.

The film highlights the savagery of the riots, systemic failures, and the emotional toll on those caught in the crossfire.

Water (2005) – Available on Apple TV

Directed by Deepa Mehta and featuring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, ‘Water’ is a poignant film set in 1938 colonial India. It explores the lives of widows confined to an ashram in Varanasi, bound by orthodox customs that isolate them after their husbands' deaths.

The film delves into gender inequality, religious dogma, and the societal marginalisation of women.

Angry Indian Goddesses (2015) – Available on Netflix

A refreshing departure from conventional Bollywood fare, Pan Nalin’s ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’ focuses on a group of diverse women who reunite in Goa for a friend’s pre-wedding celebration.

What begins as a light-hearted getaway quickly unfolds into a searing exploration of patriarchy, female rage, and the everyday battles women face in society. The film is raw, unapologetic, and brutally real in its portrayal of gender politics.