The buzz around Rajinikanth’s new film, “Coolie,” won’t die down. It is making huge money at the box office. But the movie is also facing a big problem. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) gave “Coolie” an ‘A’ certificate. This means only adults aged 18 and over can watch it. The film’s producers, Sun Pictures, are not happy. They have taken the matter to the High Court.
Sun Pictures filed a petition in the Madras High Court. They are challenging the CBFC’s decision. They believe the film should get a U/A certificate, which allows children to watch with adult supervision. An ‘A’ rating severely limits who can see the movie. This is a major concern for the makers, especially for a star like Rajinikanth.
The Court Steps In
Justice TV Tamilselvi accepted the petition from Sun Pictures. The court will hear the arguments soon, possibly today. Sun Pictures argues that “Coolie” has action scenes similar to other popular films. They specifically named “KGF” and “Beast.” Both of those movies received U/A certificates. So, they question why “Coolie” was rated differently.
During the court discussion, A Kumarguru, the lawyer for the central government, said the petition should not even be considered. But senior advocate J Ravindran, helped by M Sneha, argued strongly. They stated that the High Court has the right to hear such appeals. This is allowed under the Cinematograph Act of 1952 and the Tribunal Reforms Act of 2021. The makers tried many times to get a U/A rating from the CBFC. However, the censor and revision committees kept the ‘A’ rating. They said “Coolie” had too many action scenes.
A Star for All Ages
Sun Pictures made another important point. Rajinikanth has fans from all age groups. His movies are watched by grand-parents, parents, and children alike. Keeping kids and teens out of theaters goes against the very purpose of this film. “Coolie” is a fun movie. It was released to celebrate Rajinikanth’s 50 years in cinema. In many theaters across Tamil Nadu, parents have argued with cinema owners. They wanted their children to be allowed inside to watch the film. This shows the widespread appeal of the star.
Lokesh Kanagaraj directed “Coolie.” It is a big-budget film. Along with Rajinikanth, the movie also stars Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Upendra Kumar, and Aamir Khan. “Coolie” hit theaters on August 14. It is currently competing at the box office with Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s “War 2.” Right now, “Coolie” seems to be winning that fight.