Censorship – The Arts

In a rare move, the Madras High Court has decided to directly view the Tamil film Manushi before ruling on a dispute between its makers and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Justice N Anand Venkatesh, while hearing a fresh plea from Vetri Maaran, the film’s producer, ordered a special screening on August 24 at a private theatre on Dr D.G.S. Dhinakaran Salai (formerly Greenways Road). The judge said the only way to assess the censor board’s stance was to “personally watch the film along with the CBFC members” to evaluate whether the 37 cuts demanded were justified.

The film, produced under Vetri Maaran’s Grassroot Film Company and directed by Gopi Nainar of Aramm fame, stars Andrea Jeremiah in the lead. It portrays the custodial torture of a woman suspected to be a terrorist, a theme that has drawn scrutiny ever since actor Vijay Sethupathi launched its trailer in April 2024.