Overview
- Justice P. T. Asha directed the CBFC to issue a U/A (16+) certificate once prescribed modifications are applied, removing the film from further review by a revising panel.
- Producers told the court they had already implemented about 27 cuts after the examining committee’s initial viewing, even as a later complaint flagged violence, use of defence emblems and potential communal sensitivity.
- The January 9 release was postponed and no new date has been announced, with exhibitors initiating refunds and overseas distributors pausing rollouts.
- The British Board of Film Classification rated the film ‘15’ on January 6, and industry tracking reported roughly ₹50 crore in global pre-release ticket sales with reports of black-market pricing.
- The ruling spotlights the CBFC chairperson’s review powers and has intensified industry concerns over certification timelines for politically sensitive, high-budget releases marketed as Vijay’s final film before full-time politics.