The Madras High Court on Wednesday sought the response of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to a petition filed by Sun Pictures, producers of superstar Rajinikanth’s latest film Coolie, challenging the ‘A’ (Adults Only) certificate granted to the movie.
Justice T.V. Thamilselvi issued notice to the CBFC after hearing both sides and posted the matter for final arguments on Monday, August 25.
CBFC’s Stand
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan appeared for the CBFC and opposed the urgent hearing. He argued that since Coolie had already released a week earlier, the certification dispute would not impact its ongoing box office performance.
The ASG further noted that the film was certified on August 4, while the petition challenging the decision was filed only on August 18. He added that the CBFC had offered to grant a U/A certificate if the makers agreed to cut specific sequences, but the producers declined and endorsed their unwillingness to remove any scenes.
Sun Pictures’ Argument
Counsel for Sun Pictures countered that the ‘A’ rating was arbitrary and inconsistent, directly discouraging family audiences from watching the film and thereby affecting ticket sales. They argued that other action-packed films, such as the KGF franchise, had received a U/A certificate despite showcasing greater violence.
The producers emphasized that family viewership forms a vital segment for mass entertainers, and the current classification was unjust.
Significance of the Case
This case holds particular importance as Coolie is the first Rajinikanth film in over three decades to receive an ‘A’ certificate—the last being Siva (1989).
Despite the certification controversy, Coolie has been a blockbuster, grossing an estimated ₹400 crore worldwide in its first week.
The petitioners, Sun Network, were represented by Advocates M. Sneha, Vimal Mohan, and Dinesh.
