CBFC Defends A Certificate for Coolie

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has defended its decision to give an adults-only ('A') certificate to Rajinikanth's latest film Coolie. The board told the Madras High Court that both the examining committee and the revising committee unanimously agreed that the movie's violent scenes made it suitable only for adults. The CBFC explained the certification process to the court, stating that the board follows a specific process for certifying movies.

The examining committee, comprising one officer from the CBFC and four members drawn from various walks of life, viewed the film and decided on an 'A' certification. The revising committee, which includes one CBFC officer and nine members from various walks of life, also agreed with this decision due to the film's violent scenes. Both committees unanimously decided that Coolie was only fit for an 'A' certification.

However, the production firm behind Coolie, Sun TV Network Limited, challenged the CBFC's decision in court. The firm claimed that it had never accepted the 'A' certificate and had a statutory right to challenge the certification. The firm's counsel pointed out that movies with more violence have been granted U/A certificates in recent times and cited examples of children in foreign countries watching the film in theaters.

After hearing both sides, the Madras High Court has reserved its decision on a civil miscellaneous appeal filed by Sun TV Network Limited challenging CBFC's decision. The court will soon announce its verdict on the matter, which will determine the fate of the film's certification. The CBFC's defense of its decision highlights the board's commitment to ensuring that films are certified according to their content and suitability for different age groups.