Malayalam Films Lead in U-Ratings, Bhojpuri Trails: Report

Quick Summary

• India’s censor boards certified nearly 18,000 films between 2017 and 2025, analyzing ratings across major film industries.
• Malayalam cinema is the most “family-kind,” with the highest share of U-rated films, followed by Tamil films.
• Bhojpuri cinema had the lowest proportion of U-rated films among Indian languages and was outperformed even by English-language titles in India on this metric.
• Telugu and Kannada movies had higher shares of A-rated content (over 10%) compared to other Indian languages.
• English-language titles ranked highest overall in adult ratings at over 16%.
• Smaller industries like Odia and Gujarati produced more family-friendly content; Odia leads with 42% U-rated films but has lower production volumes overall.
• Over half of all Indian movies are rated U/A nonetheless of language or genre.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This study sheds light on regional disparities in film certifications, reflecting varying cultural sensibilities in entertainment consumption across India. The predominance of family-friendly Malayalam and Tamil cinema underscores a trend toward broader audience inclusivity. Conversely, Bhojpuri cinema’s lower share of U certifications might point to distinct audience expectations or content choices specific to that region.

The surge in A-rated Telugu and Kannada content could signal growing experimentation with mature themes within South Indian filmmaking. Though, thes choices may also cater to niche audiences rather than mainstream family viewers.

Data limitations-such as smaller production scales for Odia or Gujarati cinemas-highlight gaps that should temper sweeping conclusions about absolute trends nationally.

For more insights: CBFC Watch