Madras High Court Today (Aug 28) dismissed Sun Pictures’ petition challenging the ‘A’ certificate given to Rajinikanth’s Coolie. The Court upheld CBFC’s stand citing violent and objectionable scenes.
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CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by Sun Pictures, the makers of superstar Rajinikanth’s latest movie Coolie, against the ‘A’ (adults only) certificate given by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Justice TV Thamilselvi delivered the judgment in the morning and said that “the plea has no merit.”
This case became important because Coolie is the first Rajinikanth film in more than 30 years to receive an ‘A’ certificate. The last time this happened was with Siva in 1989.
The producers had argued that “an ‘A’ rating restricts family audience, a vital segment for a mass entertainer.”
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan appeared on behalf of the CBFC and supported the decision to give the movie an ‘A’ certificate.
He submitted that:
“’Coolie’ has several violent and extremely threatening scenes and that there were depictions of frequent smoking and drinking, which were not suitable for children to view.”
He further stated that:
“Both the examining and revising committee of the CBFC had agreed that the film should get an ‘A’ (adults only) certificate.”
The ASG explained that:
“The CBFC had also offered to grant a U/A certificate (unrestricted with parental guidance) for the film if the film makers agreed to make more cuts to the film.”
However, the makers of Coolie refused to do so. The ASG pointed out that the makers told the CBFC that they were not ready to cut any more scenes from the film.
He also added that
“The film was certified on August 4 but the challenge to its certification was mounted only on August 18.”
The counsel for Sun Pictures strongly disagreed with these submissions.
They argued:
“The ‘A’ certificate was dissuading families from watching the film thereby, directly impacting ticket sales and audience reach.”
The producers also maintained that:
“The certificate was arbitrary and inconsistent, particularly when other action-heavy films such as the KGF franchise were given a U/A rating despite showcasing greater levels of violence.”
Despite the legal battle, Coolie has performed extremely well at the box office and “grossed an estimated Rs 400 crore worldwide in its first week.”
- Sun Network was represented by advocates M Sneha, Vimal Mohan and Dinesh. A detailed copy of the judgment is still awaited.
| Reference in Article | Law / Section Applicable | Explanation in Simple English |
|---|---|---|
| Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) | Cinematograph Act, 1952 – Section 3 & 4 | CBFC is the official authority created under this Act. It examines movies and decides the certificate (U, U/A, A, S). |
| ‘A’ (Adults Only) Certificate | Cinematograph Act, 1952 – Section 4(1) and Certification Rules, 1983 | An ‘A’ certificate means only adults (18+) can watch the film. It is given when a film has strong violence, sexual content, smoking/drinking depictions, or anything harmful for children. |
| U/A (Unrestricted with Parental Guidance) Certificate | Cinematograph Act, 1952 – Section 4(1) | A U/A certificate allows children below 12 to watch the film only with parental guidance. It is given when a film has moderate violence or themes but still not very harmful. |
| Examining & Revising Committees of CBFC | Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 – Rule 22 & 24 | Every film is first seen by an Examining Committee. If the producers appeal, a Revising Committee reviews the decision before final certification. |
| Challenge before High Court | Article 226 of the Constitution of India | High Courts have the power to review government or statutory body decisions if they are arbitrary, illegal, or violate rights. Sun Pictures used this power to challenge CBFC’s certificate. |
| Impact on Business / Audience | Not a legal section, but linked with Right to Trade under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution | Producers argued that the ‘A’ certificate affects their business as families (a big audience segment) avoid such films. They tried to show it violates their right to trade. |
| Judgment by Justice TV Thamilselvi | Judicial Review Principles | The Court held that CBFC followed proper process and therefore “the plea has no merit.” Courts usually don’t interfere unless there is clear illegality in CBFC’s action. |
CASE TITLE:
Sun TV Network Vs Central Board of Film Certification.
Last Hearing: Madras High Court Reserves Order
The Madras High Court on Aug 25 witnessed an important hearing regarding the certification of superstar Rajinikanth’s movie Coolie.
Justice TV Thamilsevi reserved the order on a petition filed by Sun Pictures, the production company of Sun TV, challenging the ‘A’ (adults only) certificate given by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The production company, Sun Pictures, had applied for certification of the movie under Rule 22 of the Cinematography (Certification) Rules, 1983.
As per procedure, the Examining Committee of CBFC first reviewed the film and later informed the producers through email that the movie would only be given an ‘A’ certificate, provided certain cuts are made.
Unhappy with this decision, the producers took the matter before the Revising Committee.
However, the Revising Committee also upheld the decision of the Examining Committee and finally issued an ‘A’ certificate, stating that the movie portrayed extensive violence.
The legal dispute now focuses on whether the movie deserves a restricted ‘A’ certificate or whether it should be given a ‘U/A’ certificate, which would allow a wider audience, including families, to watch the film.
| Category | ‘A’ Certificate (Adults Only) | ‘U/A’ Certificate (Parental Guidance) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Adults Only | Universal/Adult Accompaniment |
| Who Can Watch | Only 18 years and above | Suitable for all ages, but children below 12 years must be accompanied by a parent/guardian |
| Themes Allowed | Mature and strong subjects like graphic violence, sexual content, drug abuse, explicit language | Moderate violence, mild sexual references, socially relevant issues – but toned down |
| Content Restrictions | More freedom in showing intense violence, nudity, or strong adult themes (within Indian law) | Must ensure sensitivity, toned visuals, and dialogues not harmful for children |
| Entry in Theatres | Strictly adults only, ID proof may be required | All age groups allowed, but children need parental guidance |
| Impact on Box Office | Limits audience to adults only, which may reduce family audience but can attract mature viewers | Wider audience reach including families, children, and teens, boosting box office potential |
| Examples of Films | Kabir Singh (2019), Gangs of Wasseypur, The Dirty Picture | Baahubali, RRR, Pathaan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan |
BACKGROUND
In a dramatic turn after the huge box office success of superstar Rajinikanth’s film Coolie, the production company Sun Pictures has approached the Madras High Court.
The company has challenged the certification granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The CBFC had cleared Coolie with an ‘A’ certificate, pointing to its violent scenes, which means that children are not allowed to watch the movie in theatres.
The petition filed by Sun Pictures is expected to come up for hearing today.
People in the film industry believe that this certification has become a hurdle for the film. Rajinikanth’s movies are usually known as family-friendly entertainers that attract audiences of all ages. With an ‘A’ certificate, minors are officially barred from watching the movie in cinemas. This has created concern among both fans and distributors who feel that the film’s reach has been limited.
Still, despite this obstacle, Coolie has already broken all records at the box office. Directed by popular filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj, the movie has earned an unbelievable Rs 404 crore worldwide in just four days, making it the highest-grossing Tamil film of all time. On the very first day of release, it collected over Rs 151 crore, setting a new benchmark in Indian cinema.
The movie features a star-studded cast with actors like Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj. For Rajinikanth, Coolie has an even more emotional meaning, as it coincides with his 50th year in the film industry.
The music by Anirudh Ravichander has added further energy and appeal, with fans calling it one of the main highlights of the film.
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj expressed his happiness and excitement over the response:
“The response is so good. The film has come out exactly the way I planned. Directing Rajinikanth is always special – it’s a dream every time.”
The outcome of the legal battle in the Madras High Court is now being watched closely by fans, legal experts, and distributors. If the verdict comes in favour of Sun Pictures, the movie may get a fresh certification, which would allow children and young audiences—who form a big part of Rajinikanth’s fan following—to enjoy the film on the big screen.
Music director Anirudh Ravichander, whose powerful background score and songs have become a rage among fans, spoke about his creative choices in Coolie. He told media that he purposely worked on a “mass theme” to match Rajinikanth’s iconic style and larger-than-life presence.
“I’m so proud to be a part of Coolie. It’s breaking records all over the world. Delivering this in Thalaivar’s 50th year is a proud moment for me,”
–he said.
Anirudh ended on an exciting note, revealing his next project with the superstar: he confirmed that his upcoming film will be Jailer 2 with Rajinikanth.
CASE TITLE:
Sun TV Network Vs Central Board of Film Certification
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