‘Coolie’ producers accepted ‘A’ certificate, refused further cuts: CBFC to HC
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Chennai: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Wednesday informed the Madras High Court that Sun TV Network Limited, the producers of Rajinikanth’s latest film Coolie, had voluntarily accepted an ‘A’ certificate after refusing to make additional edits required for a U/A rating.
The decision effectively barred viewers below 18 years from watching the film in theatres. Appearing before Justice T.V. Thamilselvi, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A.R.L. Sundaresan stated that the production house had been clearly informed that further cuts were necessary to secure a U/A certificate.
“They made an endorsement saying they did not want any cuts and opted for the ‘A’ certificate. Having accepted it, they cannot now take a contrary stand,” Sundaresan told the court.
The submissions were made during the hearing of a civil miscellaneous appeal filed by the production company, seeking to quash the CBFC’s August 4 proceedings and direct the issuance of a U/A certificate.
The ASG argued that there was no urgency to the plea, noting that the film had already been released on August 14. He added that the appeal was filed only on Tuesday, a week after the release, and stressed there was no extraordinary circumstance, such as an imminent eviction or demolition, that warranted a priority hearing.
Sundaresan requested time until August 25 for the CBFC to file a counter-affidavit. He outlined the timeline, stating that the producers applied for certification on July 28 and were issued an ‘A’ certificate on August 4. Ten days later, they released the film, and only after a week approached the High Court seeking a U/A classification.
“They cannot demand an urgent hearing after such a delay,” he submitted.
Justice Thamilselvi, after considering the arguments, noted that nearly a week had already passed since the film’s release and said she would grant sufficient time for the CBFC to file its counter-affidavit.
In its appeal, the production company argued that Coolie was made to commemorate superstar Rajinikanth’s 50 years in cinema. Featuring a pan-India cast including Nagarjuna Akkineni and Aamir Khan, the film had emerged as a “mega blockbuster,” the producers claimed.
However, they contended that Rajinikanth’s massive fan base, spanning all age groups, was being unfairly restricted from viewing the film due to the ‘A’ certification.
With IANS inputs