Lokesh Kanagaraj On Coolie Getting ‘A' Certificate: ‘It's Going To Be A Violent Film'

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Rajinikanth's film Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, gets an 'A' certificate from CBFC. Fans are excited for the action thriller releasing on August 14.
Superstar Rajinikanth's highly anticipated film Coolie is inching closer to its grand theatrical release. Just a few days before fans can watch the action thriller, the production house behind the film, Sun Pictures, announced that the film has received an 'A' (Adults Only) certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The rating implies that the content can only be watched by viewers aged 18 and above, typically due to intense violence or coarse language.
The announcement left fans both curious and excited. An 'A' certificate is rare for a Rajinikanth film, as it comes after 36 years. The veteran actor's films that earlier had an 'A' certificate were Pudukkavidhai (1982), Ranga (1982), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), and Siva (1989). However, director Lokesh Kanagaraj is known for gritty, unfiltered storytelling and action thrillers like Kaithi, Vikram and Leo.
Now, Lokesh Kanagaraj sat down for an interview with Galatta Plus and spoke about the film getting an 'A' certificate. When asked if he had compromised in violence, he clarified, 'No compromise. It's going to be a violent film. The film will have all the emotions that can be triggered in a family audience. But at the same time, I didn't want to lose my grip when it comes to the film. I didn't want to do a PG-13 film."
How An 'A'-Certified Film Can Affect The Revenues
As per a report by Etimes, an industry insider talked about how the adult rating can affect the rating and how it can earn big in theatres. The person mentioned, 'A Rajinikanth or a Vijay film has a large audience because of the family crowd they draw. If you take a family of four with two kids, an 'A'-certified film ends up losing not two but four tickets. If the film gets a good report, then the film will perform very well and compensate collection-wise for this segment of the audience not coming in."
'So, while theatres might not face a revenue loss through the tickets not being sold, they will be hit primarily with the revenue they get from food and beverage sales and parking, as it is families—compared to the youth—who spend more on them," he added.
Coolie's Cast and Storyline
The action thriller, written by Chandhru Anbazhagan and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, follows the story of an ageing gold smuggler, Deva (played by Rajinikanth). The 2-hour 48-minute movie shows how Deva uses antique gold watches to reunite his old gang and reclaim his criminal empire. But the plan takes a turn as his plan leads to the formation of a new criminal enterprise, with a focus on greed and crime.
Set to release a day ahead of India's 79th Independence Day, August 14, the film brings together several talented actors, including Sathyaraj, Nagarjuna, Sivakarthikeyan, Pooja Hegde, Shruti Haasan, Upendra Rao and Soubin Shahir. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan will also make a special cameo appearance in the film.
First Published:
August 04, 2025, 16:49 IST
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