For the first time in the history of Tamil cinema the court had to intervene and pass orders to the Central Board of Film Certification to certify the Tamil film Marina Puratchi within 7 days, starting from the day the director declares that the film has no harmful content.
Finally, director M.S. Raj who made the film has succeeded in his ongoing tussle with CBFC, when his film was denied censor certificate on three earlier occasions. The Revising Committee in Hyderabad headed by actress Jeevitha has awarded 'U' Certification to MP, with many cuts and mutes.
Marina Puratchi is a political thriller based on the 8-day revolutionary protest in January 2017 when Tamil people from across the world demanded a removal of the ban on Jallikattu.
Speaking to DC, Raj reveals, “I have just tried to tell the world a few truths which were concealed from the public during the Jallikattu protest. There is absolutely nothing against the government or the religious sentiments of people. Still, the film was denied a censor certificate after being viewed by the regional Examining Committee and was sent to the Revising Committee, without giving any reasons. Again, MP, watched by a committee under actress Gautami, was banned and sent to 2nd Revising Committee. I did not hear from them for many months and hence I approached court.”
The film has been screened successfully in several countries including USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Yemen, Singapore and Malaysia. “Tamils across the globe welcomed the film with open arms. I even got a censor certificate from Singapore and Australia to prove my point that the film has the right content and is a visual registration of what had happened in Marina in Jallikattu protest in January 2017.”
What were the objectionable portions of the film from the censors’ point of view, we ask. “The Censor Board insisted that the film should not speak anything against PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Then they asked me to remove dialogues, which they felt are against the central government. They objected to portions involving caste politics. I have a feeling that for some reasons they were favouring PETA. However, I still argued with them that my film is purely based on Jallikattu protests and the truth behind it. There is nothing exaggerated to make it dramatic. I had to give up at some point of time and agreed to mute and remove certain dialogues.”
The film features Naveen and Shruthi who had participated in the protests as the lead actors. Ace Velraj is the cinematographer. “Impressed with the film, Jesu Sundarraman from California has come forward to release the movie worldwide through his ‘J Studios’ during May end,” is how Raj signs off!
