CBFC clears Tamil film 'Sarkar' after three cuts

Following the protest from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) cadre against the alleged negative portrayal of former Tamil leader J. Jayalalitha in the upcoming political thriller 'Sarkar', the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) made three cuts in the film and removed certain objectionable scenes.

In a new certificate, issued by the CBFC, the three cuts have reduced the duration of the movie by five seconds. Previously the run time of the movie was 164 minutes and 46 seconds, and after the cuts, it is 164 minutes 41 seconds.

The movie which stars Tollywood actor Vijay, 'Sarkar' ran into trouble over some scenes that allegedly criticise the previous Tamil Nadu government led by late J. Jayalalithaa.

The first cut in the movie deleted the "visuals of throwing mixie and grinder in fire", which was 5 seconds long. The second cut involved muting the name 'Komala' "from the full name "Komalavalli" (wherever it occurs)". The name was even removed from the "corresponding subtitle".

In the third cut, the dialogues 'Podhuppaniththurai' which roughly stands for Public Works Department, and '56 varusham' or 56 years were muted and was removed from their corresponding subtitles. The movie will now be shown with a U/A certification.

AIADMK protesters on Thursday tore the posters of the movie in Coimbatore, Madurai, and Chennai and demanded the arrest of the film's director A.R. Murugadoss. But on Friday, the Madras High Court issued a restraining order against his arrest till November 27 after he sought an anticipatory bail in this case.

The agitated protestors had also vandalised theatres where the movie was being screened. Tamil Nadu Law minister C.V. Shanmugam even condemned Vijay's recent release for allegedly attempting to instigate violence and also said that it is not less than a terrorist instigating people for violence.

The film, which released on November 7 earned over Rs 100 crores within two days of its opening.