Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap took to Instagram on Thursday to lash at Brahmin organisations opposing the release of Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa starrer Phule and also the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for seeking the removal of caste references in the film.

Anurag shared many stories on Instagram expressing his filter-free thoughts on the whole controversy. “Meri zindagi ka pehla natak Jyotiba aur Savitribai Phule pe tha. Bhai agar casteism nahin hota is desh mein toh unko kya zaroorat thi ladne ki. Ab ye Brahmin log ko sharam aa rahi hai ya wo sharam mein mare ja rahe hain ya phir ek alag Brahmin Bharat mein jee rahe hain jo hum dekh nahin paa rahe hain, ch****a kaun hai koi to samjhave. (The first play I ever did in my life was on Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. If casteism didn’t exist in this country, why would they have needed to fight against it? Now these Brahmin groups either feel ashamed, are dying of shame, or perhaps they’re living in some alternate Brahmin-only India that we’re unable to see. Someone please explain—who’s the real fool here?)”

He also went on to question that if the film was given to CBFC for certification, how did it reach the Brahmin groups? “My question is, when the film goes for censoring, there are four members in the board. How the f*** the groups and the wings get access to films until and unless they are given access to it? The whole f******g system is rigged,” he wrote.

He also listed films apart from Phule like Punjab 95, Tees and Dhadak 2, which are pending release as they show the uncomfortable truths of society.

“I don’t know how many other films are blocked that exposes the agenda of this casteist, regionalist, racist government… so ashamed to see their own face in the mirror. So ashamed that they can’t even openly talk about what it is about the film that bothers them. F*****g cowards,” he wrote.

The Mukkabaaz (2017) director also raised questions on the Santosh (2024) release being halted in India, and Dhadak 2 also facing similar issues. In a post, he wrote, “Dhadak 2 ki screening mein censor board ne bola, Modi ji ne india mein caste system khatam kar diya hai . Usi aadhar pe Santosh bhi india mein release nahin hui . Ab Brahmin ko problem hai Phule se . Bhaiya, jab caste system hi nahin hai to kahe ka Brahmin . Kaun ho aap. Aap ki kyon sulag rahi hai (During the screening of Dhadak 2, the censor board told us that Modiji has eradicated the caste system in India. On the same grounds, Santosh couldn’t be released in India either. Now, Brahmins are objecting to Phule. Brother, if there’s no caste system, how can you be a Brahmin? Who are you? Why are you getting worked up?).”

He added, “Jab caste system tha nahin toh jyotiba phule aur Savitri bai kyon the . Ya toh aap ka bahmnism exist hi nahin karta kyon ki Modi jinke hisaab se india mein caste system nahin hai? Ya sab log milke sab ko c*****a bana rahe ho. Bhai mil ke decide kar lo . India mein casteism hai ya nahi. Log chutiya nahin hain. . Aap Brahmin log ho ya phir aap ke baap hain jo upar baithe hain . Decide kar lo (If there’s no caste system, why did Jyotiba Phule and Savitri Bai exist? Either your Brahminism doesn’t exist according to Modiji’s claim that there’s no caste system in India, or everyone is being fooled. Decide once and for all, does casteism exist in India or not? People aren’t fools. Are you Brahmins, or are the ones calling the shots one? Decide now.)”

Phule, directed by Ananth Mahadevan, is a biopic on social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule. On April 7, the CBFC asked the makers of the film to introduce several cuts in it. These included removing terms such as ‘Mang’, ‘Mahar’ and ‘Peshwai’, as well as modifying the line ‘3,000 saal purani ghulami’ (3000 years old slavery) to ‘kai saal purani ghulami’ (many years old slavery). The film’s director had shared that they have complied with all the requirements. The film was given a U certificate.

After the battle with the CBFC, the film was set to release on April 11, but certain Brahmin organisations raised objections against the film. Phule will now hit theatres on April 25.