A controversy has erupted around director Sudha Kongara’s upcoming film after details from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate revealed that the Tamil version of the movie contained derogatory references to Telugu people.
According to the censor certificate, the word “Golti”, widely regarded as a racial slur against Telugu-speaking communities — was used twice in the film and was subsequently muted following objections. The reference appears under Cut No. 17 of the CBFC modification list, which records that the words “Notraam” and “Golti” were muted at multiple time codes in the film.
The revelation has triggered strong backlash from Telugu audiences and social media users, who have accused the film’s makers of promoting linguistic hatred while simultaneously positioning the movie as a progressive, anti-imposition narrative. Critics pointed out the contradiction of condemning alleged language imposition while using offensive terminology against another linguistic community.
The outrage has particularly focused on director Sudha Kongara, a Telugu-speaking filmmaker, and actor Sivakarthikeyan, who has enjoyed consistent support and acceptance in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Critics argued that the use of such language amounted to a betrayal of Telugu audiences who have backed the actor’s films in the Telugu states.
Social media campaigns demanding an unconditional apology from the film’s team gained traction, with several users calling for a boycott of the movie in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Many alleged that the film was not merely a creative work, but part of a larger ideological project aligned with DMK’s political narrative, selectively targeting Hindi while normalising slurs against other Indian linguistic groups.
The CBFC document further lists multiple politically sensitive edits, including the muting of phrases critical of Hindi, removal of visuals depicting effigy burning labelled “Hindi Arakki,” and insertion of disclaimers in sequences involving national institutions. Critics have cited these edits as evidence that the film originally contained overt political messaging aimed at reinforcing anti-Hindi sentiment while shielding itself through post-certification modifications.
As calls for accountability grow louder, Telugu groups have stated that an unconditional public apology is the minimum acceptable response, warning that silence from the filmmakers will only deepen resentment and strengthen boycott calls across the Telugu-speaking states.
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