'Manushi' film release hangs in balance: Madras High Court to mediate censorship row

Chennai: In a rare move, the Madras High Court will directly review the Tamil film 'Manushi' following a dispute between its makers and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Justice N Anand Venkatesh, hearing a petition filed by filmmaker Vetrimaaran on Tuesday, ordered a private screening of the film in Chennai on August 24 to decide whether the censor board was justified in demanding 37 cuts.

Produced by Vetrimaaran’s Grassroot Film Company and directed by Gopi Nainar, known for 'Aramm', the film stars Andrea Jeremiah in the lead role. It portrays the custodial torture of a woman suspected of terrorism, a theme that has drawn attention since actor Vijay Sethupathi released its trailer in April 2024.

The conflict began in September 2024, when both the examining and reviewing committees of the CBFC denied certification. The board argued that the film depicted the state in a “negative light” and blurred the line between “leftist communism and mainstream communism.”

Vetrimaaran challenged the decision in June, alleging that the CBFC acted without transparency by denying him a chance to defend the film or clarify specific objections. He sought an expert panel, including human rights activists, to re-examine the work.

While hearing that case, the court noted the CBFC’s submission that it had again reviewed the film and identified objectionable sequences. The petition was disposed of in June, with the producer free to pursue further legal remedies.

However, Vetrimaaran returned with a fresh plea, calling the objections “excessive and arbitrary.” He cited the flagging of even minor dialogues, such as the colloquial insult “saniyan,” as a violation of the board’s own guidelines.

Justice Venkatesh responded that the only way forward was to watch the film personally, along with CBFC members, to verify the objections.

He ordered the screening at a private theatre on Dr DGS Dhinakaran Salai (formerly Greenways Road) and directed senior central government panel counsel A Kumaraguru to ensure the attendance of CBFC officials.

The High Court’s intervention sets the stage for an unprecedented judicial review of 'Manushi'. The outcome is expected to determine not only the film’s release but also influence broader debates on censorship and creative freedom in Indian cinema.

IANS inputs