The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has denied satellite rights for the Malayalam film Marco, starring Unni Mukundan. Additionally, the CBFC has recommended that the government remove the movie from streaming platforms.
The board cited excessive violence as the primary reason for the rejection, stating that the film is unsuitable for a family audience. Nadeem Thufali T, the CBFC Regional Officer, has formally requested the CBFC chairperson to urge the Centre to withdraw the film from OTT platforms. Currently, the neo-noir action thriller is available on SonyLIV and Aha.
In an interview with Manorama News, Nadeem Thufali T clarified, “Marco has already received an ‘A’ certification from the CBFC. It is the responsibility of parents to be mindful of what their children watch. The CBFC’s role is limited to certifying films, not censoring them. We have denied satellite rights as the movie is not suitable for family viewing.”
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently raised concerns about the influence of violent films and television shows on youth. He linked such content to the tragic death of a student involved in a violent altercation in Kozhikode. During a speech in the Assembly on March 3, he cautioned that films like Avesham, which have been associated with violent incidents, might encourage aggressive behavior and negatively impact young audiences.
During a promotional event for his film Parivar, actor Jagadish addressed this ongoing debate. He remarked, “Lage Raho Munna Bhai promoted Gandhian principles, but how many people adopted them? Are we implying that audiences are only influenced by negativity and not positivity? And what about actors themselves? If audiences embrace Tony Issac’s message but not Jagadish’s, despite the latter never endorsing violence, then this topic truly warrants discussion.”
