‘Marco’ under fire for extreme violence; ban for 'below 18' demanded
Thiruvananthapuram: Advocate J S Akhil has submitted a formal complaint to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding the Malayalam film Marco, starring Unni Mukundan, claiming that its extreme violence should not be shown to children under 18. In his letter dated December 24, 2024, Akhil voiced concerns about the movie's disturbing content and its inappropriate screening in theatres, where children were allowed to watch despite the movie being rated ‘A’ for adults.
In his complaint, Akhil explained that he watched Marco at Artech Central Mall in Pattoor, Thiruvananthapuram, on December 23 and found the film to be excessively violent. He described scenes of brutal killings that included gore, mutilations, and unnecessary violence, which he believes could negatively impact young viewers. Akhil emphasised that the film has no clear purpose behind its violent content and that such graphic scenes should be restricted to mature audiences. “Sure, villains are expected to kill people. But what we see in this film are not the usual murders. Instead, ears are bitten off, limbs chopped with saw machines, heart, eyes, and intestines ripped out, and a foetus pulled out from a mother's womb with bare hands,” said his statement.
Akhil pointed out that despite the film being rated ‘A,’ many theatres did not impose any restrictions to prevent children under 18 from attending the screenings. He argued that this oversight could lead to serious psychological effects on young viewers exposed to such graphic violence. In his complaint, Akhil urged the CBFC to take immediate action by instructing all theatres to prevent minors from watching the film.
Request for immediate action
Akhil has requested the CBFC to issue a strict directive to all cinemas across Kerala to ensure that children under 18 are not allowed to watch Marco. He expressed concern that the film's disturbing content could have a lasting negative impact on younger audiences and called for a ban on its screening for minors.
Akhil also referenced an article from a popular news paper, published on December 24, which highlighted the film's gruesome violence. The article reviews the movie as “an unpalatable experience,” further reinforcing Akhil's concerns about the film's content.
Directed by Haneef Adeni, Marco boasts a cast featuring Siddique, Jagadish, Anson Paul, and prominent Bollywood actors in pivotal roles. The technical team includes cinematographer Chandru Selvaraj, editor Shameer Mohammed, sound designer Sapthaa Records, and production designer Sunil Das.