The biggest Hollywood release of the year is almost here. Avatar 3 (Avatar: Fire And Ash), directed by James Cameron, hits theatres worldwide in just two days. Naturally, the buzz is massive. Along with excitement, there was also curiosity around one key question – did the film face any censorship in India?
The answer has surprised many.
Avatar 3 Gets CBFC Clearance Without Any Cuts
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared Avatar: Fire And Ash with a U/A 16+ certificate on December 11, 2025. This decision is surprising because the previous Avatar films were known for their intense action, disturbing violence and abusive language. Many expected cuts or at least muted words this time as well. However, that did not happen.
According to censor details revealed by Bollywood Hungama, the Examining Committee passed the film without a single visual cut. No scenes were trimmed, no dialogue was muted, and no words were deleted or replaced. This clean clearance has sparked discussion across film circles. It remains unclear whether the film avoids profanities altogether or if the studio chose to self-censor before submitting it for certification.
Avatar 3 Is The Longest Film In Franchise
Another detail grabbing attention is the film’s runtime. As mentioned on the censor certificate, Avatar: Fire And Ash runs for 197.21 minutes (3 hours, 17 minutes and 21 seconds). This makes it the longest film in the Avatar franchise so far.
For comparison, Avatar (2009) had a runtime of 162 minutes. Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022) was longer at 192.10 minutes. The third instalment now pushes the boundary even further.
The contrast becomes sharper when looking back at the censor journey of The Way Of Water. In December 2022, Bollywood Hungama had exclusively reported that the CBFC asked for several modifications in the last film –
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Muted | ‘ps face’, ‘bh’, ‘a’, ‘fg’, ‘st’, ‘bholes’, ‘dipst’, ‘son of a bh’, ‘a-whipping’, ‘batst’, ‘ahole’, ‘f*k’ |
| Censored | Abusive words were censored across 18 scenes |
| Removed | No visual scenes were removed |
Given this history, the clean pass for Fire And Ash feels unexpected.
About Avatar: Fire And Ash
Avatar: Fire And Ash releases globally on December 19, 2025. The story picks up about a year after the events of The Way Of Water. Jake Sully and Neytiri are still dealing with deep grief after the death of their eldest son, Neteyam. Their pain shapes many emotional moments in the film.
The plot introduces a new and dangerous Na’vi clan known as the Ash People, also called the Mangkwan clan. They live in a volcanic region and follow a far more aggressive way of life. The clan is led by Varang, a ruthless matriarch played by Oona Chaplin. Unlike other Na’vi, Varang rejects the goddess Eywa, creating a sharp ideological clash within Pandora itself.
The story also places strong focus on Spider, the human-born boy, who becomes an emotional anchor for the Sully family as the Second Pandoran War intensifies. The conflict is darker, more violent, and more personal than before.
On the technical front, James Cameron continues to push cinematic limits. The film uses the Sony VENICE Rialto 3D camera system, allowing actors to see their digital characters in real time during shooting. For viewers, this means a more immersive experience. For the first time in the franchise, the film will also screen in Dolby Vision Cinema, alongside IMAX 3D, 4DX, and standard 2D formats.
In India, the film will release in six languages (English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam). Advance bookings opened on December 5, mainly for IMAX and premium formats. By mid-December, over 3.5 lakh tickets had already been sold. While pre-sales are slightly behind The Way Of Water, expectations remain sky-high.
