Our Children Deserve Better Than Housefull 5, a Failing Censor Board, and a Complacent Audience

June 18, 2025 :  A glaring inconsistency in content certification has surfaced: Housefull 5, filled with coarse humour and objectification of women, received a U/A rating—permitting “family viewing with parental guidance.” Meanwhile, OMG 2, a thoughtful film designed to educate teenagers on sexuality and adolescent health, was slapped with an ‘A’ certificate, barring the very audience it sought to inform.

In today’s world, where cinema can profoundly shape cultural norms and influence young minds, India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) appears to be striking the wrong chord. While Housefull 5—the latest in a franchise known for its risqué comedy and dated stereotypes—is classified as safe for mixed-age audiences, Oh My God 2, which responsibly tackles puberty and consent, remains inaccessible to its intended viewers.

Family Viewing or Harmful Content?
On June 17, I attended a multiplex screening of Housefull 5. The theatre was brimming—toddlers, teens, parents, and grandparents all seated under the CBFC’s “family-friendly” stamp. But what unfolded on screen was far from wholesome.

The film opens with billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal’s death aboard a cruise ship. A female lawyer (Soundarya Sharma) enters provocatively and immediately becomes the target of crude humour—such as a gag involving makeshift binoculars made from rolled-up paper as she crosses her legs. Some adults laughed; others squirmed. A nearby 10-year-old giggled—and that’s when the unsettling impact hit home. What were they actually laughing at—and learning?

From emphasis on cleavage to jokes about positions, foreign women, and references like “69,” Housefull 5 pushes sexualised content under the guise of comedy. Women are groped in the dark; objectifying punchlines abound. And yet, the film carries a U/A rating—as if such content is harmless for impressionable viewers.

A Film That Educates, but Is Restricted
In contrast, OMG 2—with Akshay Kumar originally cast as Lord Shiva (later changed due to religious concerns)—aims to address teenage sexuality openly and sensitively. It explores topics like puberty, masturbation, and consent—not through titillation, but with empathy and clarity. Despite this, the CBFC imposed an ‘A’ rating, citing “explicit” content, and even demanded cuts—making the film practically unreachable to its relevant audience: teens.

The board seemed laser-focused on possible religious offense—yet turned a blind eye to Housefull 5’s problematic or even harmful humour.

Society’s Complicity
What’s perhaps most disturbing is that audiences are complicit. Housefull 5 is topping box-office charts, with packed screenings and roars of laughter. It’s being labeled a “mass entertainer,” even as it perpetuates sexist tropes.

In contrast, OMG 2—which dared to have honest conversations about teenage development—is sidelined.

The Real Concern
This isn’t just about double standards at the CBFC. It’s about a society that values slapstick over substance, laughs at objectification, and crowds out meaningful dialogue about growing up. If adults continue to applaud regressive content and reject films that educate, we’re complicit in failing our children. Cinema shouldn’t just entertain—it should challenge, inform, and empowe

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