Sandhya Suri is a British-Indian filmmaker who recently had her new film, Santosh, banned by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), find out more about her bio, age and husband
Sandhya is renowned for her thought-provoking documentaries and narrative films. Her debut feature film, Santosh was the UK’s official entry for the Oscars with its central theme being of violence against women.
Who is Sandhya Suri, director of movie Santosh, biography, age, husband, nationality, religion, Instagram and movies list
Suri has gained international recognition for her ability to weave personal and political narratives, and her works often explore themes of identity, migration, and social justice.
CBFC bans upcoming Sandhya Suri film Santosh
The CBFC has officially decided to ban Sandhya Suri’s latest film, Santosh, blocking it from release in India. The critically acclaimed Hindi-language film was the United Kingdom’s official entry to the Oscars. It was co-produced by British and French production houses and received a ban due to its depiction of police violence, misogyny, and Islamophobia.
SANTOSH by Sandhya Suri ~ UK's entry for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards pic.twitter.com/l9MfN8r3er
— keerthik śaśidharan (@KS1729) December 26, 2024
Following the ban, Suri expressed disappointment over the decision and stated in an interview with The Guardian:
It was surprising for all of us because I didn’t feel that these issues were particularly new to Indian cinema or hadn’t been raised before by other films.”
Sandhya Suri bio
South London based Sandhya Suri is a British-Indian filmmaker and documentarian who was born and raised in England. Suri is known for her unique storytelling that bridges historical and contemporary narratives and features deep emotional resonance and meticulous research in her works. She has made intimate documentaries and internationally acclaimed feature films. Details about her relationship status and if she’s married or single aren’t known.
Suri who is a Hindu by religion was raised in Darlington, near Newcastle, in the Northeast of England and now lives in Brixton, South London. She graduated in pure mathematics and German, and received a scholarship to study documentary filmmaking at The National Film and Television School and her debut feature documentary I For India premiered in the World Competition section of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
Best known for her documentary I for India (2005) and her lyrical short film The Field (2018), director Sandhya Suri’s narrative feature Santosh (2024) is a hard-nosed Indian cop drama that wears its social commentary and 10 years of research with inconspicuous ease.
Age
While her exact date of birth is not publicly available, Sandhya Suri is estimated to be in her early 40s.
Education
Despite initially pursuing a degree in mathematics, Sandhya Suri eventually transitioned into filmmaking after teaching in Japan. She went on to study documentary filmmaking at the National Film and Television School in the UK.
Career and films
Sandhya Suri made her debut with the film I for India in 2005, featuring a chronicle of her father’s experience as an Indian immigrant in the UK. She even used personal audio recordings, and the documentary got nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
She then released Around India with a Movie Camera in 2018. It was a silent documentary that featured all kinds of archival footage from the British Film Institute. Later that same year, she released a short film titled The Field. The Field got nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Short Film. Suri’s most recent film, Santosh, started taking shape in 2016 when she was accepted into the Sundance Institute Director’s Lab. Suri premiered the film at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Santosh was also the UK’s official submission for the Oscars.
Only propaganda movies get a free run in this country. pic.twitter.com/xZlbORaRCO
— 𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓪𝓻 (@yansan) March 26, 2025
Awards and achievements
Over the years, Sandhya Suri has received recognition at various prestigious international film festivals, including:
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| 2006 | Sundance Film Festival | Grand Jury Prize | I for India | Nominated |
| 2018 | BAFTA Film Awards | Best Short Film | The Field | Nominated |
| 2018 | Toronto International Film Festival | Best International Short Film | The Field | Won |
| 2018 | Melbourne International Film Festival | Best Fiction Short Film | The Field | Won |
| 2024 | Cannes Film Festival | Un Certain Regard | Santosh | Nominated |
Net worth
Although Sandhya Suri’s exact net worth is not publicly available, she has an estimated net worth of between $1 million and $3 million. Most of her income comes from her successful career in filmmaking.