Salman Khan starrer Maatrubhumi is one of the most-awaited films of the year. The movie was slated for release in April this year, but it has been postponed. While the makers have not yet announced the new release date, several theories have been doing the rounds on social media with respect to its shoot and certification, while the film is still at the post-production stage.
A recent report in NDTV claimed that the film is facing issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), as the final certification of Maatrubhumi has been put on hold, thwarting the makers' plans to release the film in August.
However, on Saturday, Salman Khan Films took to social media to share a statement and clarify that there are no issues with the CBFC and that the movie has not yet been submitted for certification. The statement read, "Any claims suggesting that Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace has encountered issues with the CBFC or that its certification has been put on hold are false. The film has not yet been submitted to the CBFC for certification. Therefore, such reports are entirely baseless. We request that media outlets and individuals refrain from circulating unverified information. Any official updates regarding the film will be shared by Salman Khan Films through its official channels only. SKF. SALMAN KHAN FILMS."
Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, which was earlier titled Battle of Galwan, was initially expected to be released in April this year but was later postponed. The film was reportedly inspired by the real-life clash between Indian and Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley. However, according to reports, the project eventually took a different direction. The film's title was changed, and references to both China and the Galwan Valley were also reportedly removed.
Earlier, while speaking about the title change, Apoorva Lakhia had said, "Changing the title may feel sudden to SK sir's fans, but it was never an overnight decision. From the start, we had registered two titles: Battle of Galwan and Maatrubhumi. As we went through the journey of making our film, we realised it was never just about a battle. At its heart, the film is about humanity, empathy, and the silent battles our soldiers fight."
He added, "Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace captures that emotion and sacrifice far more truthfully. It reflects the soul of the story, preserving humanity even in the face of conflict. There's also a song in the film by the same name, and the love it has received from audiences made the title feel even more right."
Netizens have reacted to Salman Khan Films' statement.
A netizen tweeted, "We don't want any updates regarding this movie. Please shelve it and leave Salman bhai alone. Let him work outside this dead banner and useless team."
Another X user wrote, "Release it on OTT only. We don't want an average movie in theatres. It will hamper only Salman bhai ."
One more netizen tweeted, "Release Maatrubhumi on OTT. It doesn't make sense to release the film in theatres after all the cuts. Fans are eager to watch Salman Khan sir's performance because he has worked hard for this, but we don't have any expectations from Apoorva. Be smart and go for an OTT release."
The film was earlier known as 'Battle Of Galwan' before it was retitled 'Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace.' It is loosely based on a chapter from Shiv Aroor's non-fiction book India's Most Fearless (2022), which details the 2020 China–India skirmishes. The story recounts how 50–60 soldiers of the Indian Army's 16 Bihar Regiment, led by Colonel B. Santosh Babu, confronted troops of China's People's Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control. summary an kywords
