Sunny Deol's upcoming film Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak has come under scrutiny after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) raised concerns about its portrayal of doctors and the medical profession. The association has written to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking an urgent review of the film's promotional content and its depiction of alleged corruption and violence against healthcare workers.The controversy follows the release of the film's teaser, which features Sunny Deol questioning malpractice in the healthcare system.
The IMA has argued that such portrayals risk damaging public trust in doctors and could encourage hostility towards healthcare professionals.However, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has clarified that the film has not been submitted for certification, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as reported by ANI.Here is what the controversy is about. Why has the IMA objected to Suryaa?In its letter to the Information and Broadcasting Minister, the IMA expressed concern over what it described as the generalisation of corruption within the healthcare system and the depiction of violence against medical professionals.The association said the film's promotional material could give viewers the impression that corruption, unethical practices and misconduct are widespread among doctors.
It maintained that cases of wrongdoing should be investigated and addressed through legal and disciplinary action, rather than being used to discredit the entire medical fraternity. The IMA also raised concerns about scenes depicting violence against doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.
It argued that portraying physical attacks on healthcare workers as heroic or justified could normalise violence against people responsible for treating patients."Such portrayals could normalise violence against healthcare professionals and potentially aggravate the safety challenges faced by doctors and hospital staff," said the letter.Copy of letter dated October 22, 2026 written to @AshwiniVaishnaw , Hon’ble Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India. https://t.co/iSkpUe4tce— Indian Medical Association (@IMAIndiaOrg) October 22, 2026The association pointed out that doctors and other healthcare workers already face safety and security challenges in hospitals. According to the IMA, content that appears to glorify attacks on medical professionals could increase hostility towards them and put their safety at further risk.It also warned that such portrayals could weaken the doctor-patient relationship by encouraging mistrust between patients and medical professionals.The IMA clarified that it does not defend corruption or unethical medical practices.
However, it stressed that individual cases of misconduct should be dealt with through appropriate legal channels instead of being generalised to an entire profession.The association further said that negative portrayals of doctors could demoralise medical students and discourage young people from entering the profession.What does the Suryaa teaser show?The makers unveiled the teaser on October 19, coinciding with Sunny Deol's birthday. Directed by M Padmakumar, the crime thriller is scheduled to release in theatres on November 20.The teaser presents Sunny as a man dealing with a personal loss who becomes involved in a series of events linked to the medical system.
The makers describe the film as being inspired by unbelievable true events and suggest that its central character sets out to uncover a disturbing truth.In the teaser, Sunny questions the trust that patients place in doctors and alleges that some medical professionals exploit that trust for financial gain. At one point, his character says that a person may visit a doctor for a minor illness but end up facing a bill of Rs 5 lakh after being made to undergo 25 tests.
He also accuses doctors associated with an organisation called Hope of writing commission slips instead of prescriptions."Doctors there don't write prescriptions. They write commission slips.
And we, the people, have been tolerating all of this. But for how long?" Sunny says in the teaser, accusing doctors of malpractice.The promotional material presents Sunny's character as someone who challenges a system he believes is exploiting vulnerable patients.
It is this portrayal of corruption and the way the film frames the conflict that has prompted the IMA to raise concerns.It is interesting to note that Suryaa is a remake of the 2018 Malayalam film Joseph. The film explores the unethical practice of falsely declaring patients brain-dead to harvest their organs, as well as criminal rackets involving the killing of potential organ donors.
At the time, the IMA's Kerala wing had criticised the film, stating that many families of brain-dead patients were reluctant to donate their loved ones' organs.What has the CBFC said?Amid the controversy, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified, according to ANI, that Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak has not been submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification for certification.This means the controversy has emerged over the film's promotional material before the formal certification process has taken place.The IMA has sought an impartial review of the film and requested appropriate action if warranted under the law. The available information does not establish that the CBFC has reviewed or cleared the film.Who stars in Suryaa?Apart from Sunny Deol, the film features Ravi Kishan, Pragya Jaiswal, Tanushree Chakraborty, Manish Wadhwa, Tinu Anand, Virti Vaghani, Jisshu Sengupta, Khalid Siddiqui, Anoop Trivedi and Rohit Tiwari.The teaser presents the film as a crime thriller that combines personal grief with an investigation into wrongdoing within the medical system.Directed by M.
Padmakumar, Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on November 20.- Ends