Chennai, 28 August 2025 – The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition filed by Sun Pictures, the producers of superstar Rajinikanth’s film Coolie, challenging the 'A' certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The matter was adjudicated by Justice T.V. Thamilselvi, who held that the certification granted under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 was in accordance with law and involved no procedural or constitutional violation.
Legal Grounds and CBFC’s Justification
The petition was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a direction to quash the CBFC’s certificate dated 4 August 2025, and to direct issuance of a U/A certificate instead. The court noted that both the Examining Committee and the Revising Committee had unanimously found the film to contain excessive violence, depictions of smoking and alcohol consumption, and intense action sequences warranting an ‘A’ (Adults Only) rating.
The CBFC had reportedly made it clear that a U/A certificate could be issued only if significant cuts were made. Sun Pictures declined the offer and accepted the ‘A’ certificate, only to later file the petition post-release.
Court’s Observations
Justice Thamilselvi emphasized the following in her ruling:
- The certification process complied with Rule 23 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983.
- The delay in filing the petition—after the release of the film on 14 August—undermined the producers’ case.
- The filmmakers had willingly accepted the 'A' certificate without seeking changes initially, which was deemed procedural acquiescence.
- The Court also noted that comparative arguments—such as Coolie being similar to KGF or Beast, which got U/A ratings—could not be the sole basis for relief. Certification decisions, it observed, are content-specific and governed by established guidelines under Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act.
Conclusion
The High Court concluded that the CBFC acted within its jurisdiction, and there was no arbitrary or discriminatory action in granting the 'A' certificate. The petition was dismissed as devoid of merit.
With this ruling, the film retains its adult certification despite the commercial concerns raised by the producers.