The Madras High Court has reserved its verdict on Sun TV Network’s plea against the “A” (adults only) certificate given to Rajinikanth’s latest film Coolie by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Coolie written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj is a multi-starrer action thriller that released in theaters on August 14, 2025, and a week after the film's release, Sun Pictures moved court challenging the A censor provided only in India by the CBFC. 

Sun TV argued that the decision was unfair, pointing out that recent films with even more violent content were granted a “U/A” certificate, which allows children to watch with parental guidance. They also noted that Coolie is already being viewed by children abroad in countries with stricter censorship rules than India. The production house insisted that the film only portrays the struggles in a coolie’s life, and any violent scenes are part of the story, not glorified.

The CBFC on August 25, 2025 defended its decision, saying that both the examining and revising committees—13 members in total—unanimously felt that Coolie was suitable only for adults. According to India's censor board, Coolie contains frequent violence, threatening moments, gruesome killings, smoking, drinking, and occasional bad language, making them question whether children should be exposed to such content.

After hearing both sides, Justice T.V. Thamilselvi reserved the final order, which will decide whether Coolie can reach a wider audience beyond adults.