The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Friday cleared the Sivakarthikeyan-starrer Parasakthi for its scheduled release on 10 January 2026, granting the Tamil film a UA certificate. The certification, however, came after the makers carried out a series of modifications mandated by the censor board.
Directed by Sudha Kongara and produced by Dawn Pictures, Parasakthi underwent 25 modifications, including cuts, replacement and muting of phrases, as well as the removal and reduction of visuals, before being cleared for release. The film, set in 1960s Madras, explores the sociopolitical climate of Tamil Nadu during the anti-Hindi agitations. It is distributed by Red Giant Movies, which is associated with the ruling DMK.
Censor Board–Mandated Modifications
According to the certification details, the CBFC directed the filmmakers to make the following changes:
- Seven phrases containing expletives were ordered to be muted across the film.
- The phrase “Thee paravatum” (Let the fire spread) was modified to “Neethi paravatum” (Let Justice Prevail).
- The phrase “Hindi en kanavai alithathu” (Hindi destroyed my dreams) was modified to “En orey kanavai Hindi thinipu erithathu” (Hindi imposition burned my only dream).
- The phrase “Hindi kaththukittu” (learning Hindi) was muted.
- Visuals showing the burning of an effigy named “Hindi Arakki” (Hindi Demon) were ordered to be removed.
- The phrase “Hindi Arakki” was modified to “Arakki” (Demon) wherever it appeared.
- The words Kundi, Nakki have been muted
- The CBFC directed adherence to five modifications related to the voiceover discussing the imposition of languages in other countries leading to their disintegration.
- Immolation visuals in the film were ordered to be reduced by 50 percent.
- Visuals of a village massacre were directed to be reduced, including the deletion of visuals depicting the killing of a young mother and the display of dead bodies.
- The phrase “Anti National scum” was muted in the dialogues and removed from the subtitles.
- Visuals showing the application of cow dung on a post office signboard were deleted.
- Visuals depicting gun shots involving a mother and a child were deleted.
- Subtitles emphasising the Hindi language were removed.
- The CBFC directed the makers to extend the duration of the pre-existing fiction disclaimer to allow more reading time for viewers.
- A voiceover was mandated for the entire fiction disclaimer.
- In sequences relating to Postal Money Orders, the board directed the insertion of a fiction disclaimer concerning the cancellation of UPSC examinations and the language proficiency requirement in Railway interviews.
Following compliance with all the stipulated modifications, Parasakthi was granted certification. The film was earlier scheduled for release on 14 January 2026 before the date was advanced to 10 January 2026.
The scale and nature of the mandated edits underline the role of the certification process in preventing content that could potentially inflame social tensions, offend linguistic or regional sentiments, or mislead audiences about public institutions. Without these interventions, the film could have contributed to heightened social discord and controversy.
Source: NDTV
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