Madras High Court Rejects Plea for ‘U/A’ Certificate for Rajinikanth’s Coolie
Rajinikanth’s blockbuster Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, will continue to hold its ‘A’ certificate after the Madras High Court dismissed a petition filed by the film’s producers seeking a ‘U/A’ rating. The court agreed with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) that the movie contains excessive violence, making it unsuitable for children.
The producers had argued that since the movie already underwent censor cuts—such as the removal of obscene language, depiction of alcohol, and other modifications—it should qualify for a ‘U/A’ certificate to allow family audiences, especially children, to watch it in theatres. They also stressed that fight sequences are common in Tamil cinema and should not be grounds for restricting viewership.
However, Justice T.V. Tamil Selvi dismissed the plea, holding that the CBFC’s assessment was valid. The Board clarified that if the producers wanted a ‘U/A’ certificate, they would need to remove all violent sequences. Since the filmmakers were unwilling to make such changes, the film retains its ‘A’ classification.
Released on August 14, Coolie is already in its third week and has broken several box office records, grossing over ₹500 crore worldwide. With the High Court’s decision, the possibility of a re-censored theatrical version has ended, and fans who missed the big-screen release now eagerly await its digital premiere. Reports suggest that Coolie will stream on OTT platforms about eight weeks after its release, most likely around the Diwali season.
