Maatrubhumi has spent most of this year waiting, and on Tuesday the wait grew a little longer. Salman Khan’s war drama is still without certification from the Central Board of Film Certification, after a screening expected on Monday, October 26, did not take place. The makers are looking at November 13 as a possible release date, but that plan depends on the censor board watching the film and clearing it in time.
The update, reported by Bollywood Hungama on Tuesday, says the makers applied for censor certification at the beginning of October. A trade source told the portal there was an assurance the film would be screened on October 26, but it did not happen. Salman Khan, the report says, has flown to Delhi a few times to ask the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to help move the process along. The source added that the actor is not asking for special treatment, only for the film to be viewed soon, because he wants it in cinemas in November.
Two different accounts of the same delay
That sounds straightforward, but not everyone is telling the same story. Other reports published in the last two days say the film is still waiting for a no objection certificate from the Ministry of Defence, and that without it the makers cannot move ahead with the CBFC process. Until that is clarified, the only point that can be stated with confidence is the simplest one: Maatrubhumi has not been certified, and no release date has been locked.
The film has already been changed more than once. It began life as Battle of Galwan, a title pointing directly at the 2020 clash in the Galwan Valley. Reports say it was screened for the Defence Ministry in mid-2026, officials suggested changes, and the makers reshot portions. A revised cut went for another screening in early October, with Salman Khan and director Apoorva Lakhia present.
What happened after that second screening is where the accounts part company. One version says government clearance followed. The other says the Defence Ministry has still not responded. Both cannot be right in full, and neither the makers nor the ministries concerned had put out a public statement settling the question on Tuesday. Readers should treat the clearance question as unresolved for now.
Why November 13, and why it is not simple
November 13 is not a random date. Bollywood Hungama reports that Salman Khan wants Maatrubhumi out two weeks before Yeh Prem Mol Liya, so both films get room at the box office. November 20 was ruled out because of the Sooraj Barjatya film due around then, the report says, and December 4 was considered and set aside because Jio Studios, which is distributing Maatrubhumi, is also releasing the Shraddha Kapoor film Eetha on that date. Releasing two films on the same day from the same distributor was not seen as workable.
That leaves November 13 as the date that fits, provided the certificate arrives in time. The source quoted in the report put it plainly: the plan is very much on, subject to the CBFC issuing the certificate in time. In other words, it is an intention, not an announcement. A film cannot be booked into theatres on the strength of a hope. It needs a certificate first, and exhibitors need time to plan shows.
Maatrubhumi was first lined up for release in April this year, under its original title. The film has Salman Khan playing an Indian Army officer, and films based on the armed forces go through an extra layer of scrutiny. It has faced questions from the start about its content and its portrayal of the neighbouring country, at a time when relations between India and China have been improving.
What to watch next
- A CBFC screening date: the first concrete sign of movement. Until then, all release talk is provisional.
- A clarification on clearance: whether the Defence Ministry certificate is in hand or still pending will settle the conflicting reports of the last two days.
- An official announcement: a release date will only be real when the makers announce it, with the certificate in place.
- The November calendar: if November 13 slips, the makers must choose between a later November slot and December, with December 4 already ruled out in reports.
For now, Maatrubhumi remains where it has been for much of this year: made, reworked, and waiting for a screening. If the CBFC watches the film soon, November 13 is still possible. If it does not, the film meant for April may have to wait a little longer still.
FAQs
What is Maatrubhumi?
Maatrubhumi is Salman Khan’s war drama directed by Apoorva Lakhia, based on the 2020 India-China clash in the Galwan Valley. It was originally titled Battle of Galwan and was first lined up for release in April 2026.
Has Maatrubhumi been cleared by the CBFC?
No. As of Tuesday, October 27, the film is still awaiting CBFC certification. A screening expected on October 26 did not take place, according to trade reports.
When will Maatrubhumi release?
No date has been confirmed. Reports say the makers are eyeing November 13, but that plan depends on the CBFC certifying the film in time.
Why has Maatrubhumi been delayed?
The film has gone through a title change and reshoots after Defence Ministry feedback, according to reports. Conflicting reports differ on whether government clearance has now been received or a Defence Ministry certificate is still pending.
Who is distributing Maatrubhumi?
Jio Studios is distributing the film, according to reports. December 4 was ruled out because Jio Studios is also releasing Eetha, starring Shraddha Kapoor, on that day.
The film’s fate now rests on a screening date. Until the CBFC watches Maatrubhumi, its November plan stays a plan, not a promise.
