'Coolie' censor row: Court denies U/A plea for the Rajinikanth starrer, fans wait for OTT release

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, 'Coolie' starring Superstar Rajinikanth was released on August 14, and the film entered into its third week of theatrical run, 'A' certificate given by the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) to the much-hyped film ‘Coolie’.

The production house, which produced the film, had requested a 'U/A' certificate as children should also be allowed to watch the film. However, Judge T.V. Tamil Selvi dismissed the petition, stating that the arguments of the producer were without merit.

Censor cuts were already followed

The producers' side argued that the film is not viewable by those under the age of 18 due to the 'A' certificate. They stated that fight scenes are inevitable in Tamil films and that a film cannot be completely banned for that reason.

They also argued that it was unfair to give the film an 'A' certificate even though some obscene language was removed, scenes of drinking were hidden, and other conditions imposed by the CBFC were met.

CBFC clarified that the film’s fight sequences

In response, the Censor Board stated that although the production company initially accepted an 'A' certificate, it later filed a petition for reconsideration. The film was unanimously given an ‘A’ certificate as it contains various violent fight scenes. The CBFC also insisted that if the production company really wanted a ‘U/A’ certificate, then all the violent scenes should be removed. After hearing statements from both sides, the Madras High Court on Thursday (Aug 28) dismissed the petition seeking 'U/A' for 'Coolie'.

So, the hope for 'Coolie' getting a re-censored version in theatres has now come to an end, and fans who missed it in theatres now wait for the film's OTT release.

Fans now await Coolie’s OTT debut

Featuring a stellar cast, 'Coolie' has created historical box office records among various audiences, and the film reportedly grossed Rs 500 crore globally. 'Coolie' is likely to have its OTT release after 8 weeks, and the film is anticipated to make its digital debut ahead of the Diwali weekend.