Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’ Producers Challenge ‘A’ Certification in Madras High Court

Quick Summary

• Movie Certification Challenge: Sun TV Network Limited has challenged the ‘A’ certificate granted to Rajinikanth’s film Coolie by the Central Board of Film certification (CBFC), which restricts audiences below 18 years of age.
• High Court Proceedings: Justice T.V. Thamilselvi of Madras High Court found the appeal maintainable and agreed to hear it on August 20, 2025.
• Legal Basis for Appeal: The production firm argued that under the Cinematograph Act, they could file an appeal with a tribunal within 30 days but had to approach the High Court directly due to tribunal abolishment via Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.
• Grounds for Objection: The CBFC issued an ‘A’ certificate citing excessive violence in Coolie, which was contested as unfair since similar violent films like KGF and Beast received U/A certificates.
• Film Context: Coolie, featuring Rajinikanth alongside Nagarjuna Akkineni and Aamir Khan, celebrates Rajinikanth’s completion of 50 years in cinema. It was released on August 14, despite pending legal challenges.

!80/Coolie%206.jpg”>Movie still
!80/Coolie%20Rajini.jpeg”>Rajinikanth’s Movie Visual

Indian Opinion Analysis

The certification dispute surrounding Coolie highlights a broader question about consistency in CBFC decisions regarding violent content across films. While regulatory bodies must ensure appropriate categorization for audience protection,discrepancies-like granting U/A certificates to similarly violent movies-raise concerns about procedural fairness and transparency. The implication is significant given Rajinikanth’s global fan base spanning all age groups who consider his cinematic milestones celebratory events.

With Indian cinema evolving into global entertainment hubs, legal challenges such as these emphasize a need for clearer guidelines from certifying authorities that balance creative expression with societal norms. Irrespective of these debates, judicial intervention may offer insights into reforms needed within India’s film certification systems.

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