National award-winning filmmaker Vetrimaaran’s much awaited film Viduthalai 2 has triggered a controversy much before its release. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sought seven changes, such as the removal of a dialogue which mentions caste, direct references to real-life political parties, and words such as ‘government’ and ‘freedom’.
Viduthalai Part 1 (2023), produced by Elred Kumar under the banner of RS Infotainment, was declared a box-office hit after its theatre release on March 31. The sequel is part of the two-part adaptation of writer Jeyamohan's short story Thunaivan (companion). Viduthalai 2 was screened at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam and released across India on Friday, December 20. The film, like most of Vetrimaaran’s films, has been given an 'A' certificate by the censor board due to raw and gritty violence. Both films follow the story of a fictional Left-leaning armed resistance leader (Vijay Sethupathi) and a young police officer (Soori) and is set deep in the Western Ghats of 1987.
The CBFC has imposed a total of six cuts and changes, apart from the mandatory anti-smoking/drinking warning.
The filmmakers were instructed to remove references to the names of specific castes originally mentioned in the script and the words ‘arasu’ and arasangam’ (government) wherever they appear. Certain political dialogues have also been removed. The lines “Pratchanaiyai theekkarudhukkaana aayudhangalai makkaley, andhandha poraatta kalangalilirundhu, uruvaakikkanum,” were instructed to be modified to include: “Andha aayudham vote ah kooda erukkalaam”.
The original dialogue translates to: “The people can create their own weapons wherever they stand, according to their needs.” The CBFC directed the filmmakers to add the lines: “That weapon can also be a vote”.
Similarly, the phrase “desiya inna viduthalai” meaning “liberation of the masses” has also been removed. The CBFC has deleted references to any real-life political organisations and several Tamil expletives as well.
Viduthalai -Part 1, though critically acclaimed, was criticised for resorting to shock-value treatment in several scenes and disturbing visuals. Vetrimaaran had depicted custodial torture and included repeated scenes of sexual assault.