The Tamil political drama Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, has finally secured its release certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after a tense delay that pushed it to the brink of postponement. The film, directed by Sudha Kongara, was cleared on Friday, January 9, 2026, with a UA 16+ certificate, but only after the makers agreed to implement a staggering over 25 cuts and modifications mandated by the board.
A Last-Minute Reprieve Amidst Censor Chaos
The film's journey to certification was fraught with uncertainty. Originally scheduled for a January 10 release, its fate was unclear as the CBFC delayed issuing the certificate. The situation grew more tense when another major Sankranti release, Jana Nayagan, was officially postponed due to similar censor-related issues. This created a high-stakes environment for the Parasakthi team, who were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief just a day before their planned release date.
With Jana Nayagan out of the race, Parasakthi has now secured a massive screen count across theaters, facing minimal competition for the festive box office. Advance bookings for the film opened in the second half of January 9, with an impressive over 600 shows in Chennai alone, indicating strong initial demand from audiences eager to see the much-discussed film.
Detailing the Extensive Modifications
The list of required changes, which quickly surfaced online, is extensive and touches on dialogue, visuals, and disclaimers. On the audio front, the censor board ordered the muting or alteration of numerous words and phrases. A voiceover that referenced the imposition of languages in other nations and their potential disintegration had to be changed.
Specific dialogue changes include altering the phrase 'Thee Paravattum' to 'Neethi Paravattum' and replacing the words 'Pattu Nuula'. A long list of words, including "Bastard, sirukki, kodila kaaya vatcha thuni maadhiri, kundila komanaththa, okkaali, kundi, nakki, mayiththukku," and "Hindi kaththukittu" were ordered to be muted. Furthermore, the sentence "Hindi en kanavai aliththathu" was modified to "En orey kanavai Hindi thinippu eriththathu."
Visually, the board demanded the removal of scenes depicting gunshots involving a mother and child. Additionally, visuals portraying a village massacre were significantly reduced in duration. The CBFC also instructed the insertion of specific fiction disclaimers for sequences involving Postal Money Orders, the cancellation of UPSC examinations, and language proficiency requirements in railway interviews. An existing disclaimer had its duration extended, and a new voiceover was added throughout the film, increasing the total runtime by 109 seconds.
Fan Fury and Online Backlash
The sheer scale of the modifications has triggered a wave of criticism and mockery from fans and cinephiles on social media and forums like Reddit. Many expressed dismay that the core narrative of the film, which is set in the 1960s and is understood to be a hard-hitting political drama inspired by real events, might be severely diluted.
One popular reaction on Reddit sarcastically suggested, "The entire movie is going to be muted. Better release it as a silent film." Another user called it the worst censor report they had seen, stating, "In a film clearly inspired by real events and issues, they've cut away so much that it dilutes the impact and core of the story. It's unbelievable."
Some took sharper jabs at the CBFC's approach. One comment read, "Just cut the whole film and make Sivakarthikeyan a spy in training learning Urdu to go to Pakistan so it fits their definition of nationalism." This backlash highlights the growing frustration among a section of the audience regarding the CBFC's scrutiny of content, particularly in films dealing with socio-political themes.
Featuring Sivakarthikeyan, Sreeleela, Ravi Mohan, and Atharvaa in lead roles, Parasakthi is now poised for its theatrical release, but it will reach audiences in a form heavily shaped by the censor board's directives. The film's performance at the box office will be closely watched, as will the ongoing conversation about creative freedom and certification in Indian cinema.
