Movies are a reflection of society. Nothing in this movie deserves to be banned in India. The ban shows that our large nation has no space for stories like this.
I watched Santosh. It is the story of a woman who became a widow just two years after her marriage. She got her husbands police job under the "Ashrit Kota" scheme. Indian films cannot openly use the name of a state in such stories, but while watching, you will understand which state this movie is referring to.
The film is more of an observational narrative from the perspective of Santosh(the lead female character). The incidents portrayed - such as the complaint of a deprived low-caste man, the first bribe, the struggle of balancing duty and personal life, and a case of rape - make you think deeply. Through these events, the movie explores how the entire system works, and how it systematically protects the well-off in India.
The use of slangs like 2 murga ek bottle, daliton ka gaon, musalmano ka mohalla, katwa etc. connects you directly to the language and mindset of society. The film depicts police brutality, lack of facilities for women in the force, custodial deaths, and even symbolic elements such as the crow, which is tied to the shradh of Santoshs husband.
One of my personal observations is that this is also a love story - between a Dalit girl who was raped and killed by societys structure, and a Muslim boy who was killed by the police meant to protect society. Both die, and in the afterlife, they meet. Both sections of Indian society remain deprived, both are still fighting for justice, and both know they will never receive it from the present system.
Jai Hind Vande Matram.