The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has stepped up its scrutiny of violent content in films, with its Regional Officer, Nadeem Thufali T, writing to the CBFC chairperson seeking the Union government’s intervention to prevent Unni Mukundan’s latest blockbuster Marco from streaming on OTT platforms.
The CBFC had earlier rejected the film’s satellite rights for television screening, citing its extreme violent content. “Marco has already been certified ‘A’ by the CBFC. Parents should exercise caution when allowing children to watch such films. The CBFC’s role is limited to certification and does not involve censorship. We have denied satellite rights for Marco as it is not suitable for a family audience,” Thufali told Manorama News.
The film, currently streaming on Sony Liv, has been a major commercial success, reportedly collecting nearly Rs 100 crore at the box office. However, concerns over its graphic violence and impact on younger audiences have reignited a broader debate on the influence of cinema on society.
Even as calls for stricter regulation grow, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) has hit back at political leaders and youth associations for linking real-world violence to themes in cinema. In a strongly worded social media statement, FEFKA dismissed such concerns as based on a flawed "reflection theory", arguing that films merely depict society rather than shape it.
FEFKA’s statement comes in response to remarks by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who warned that films and television serials often glorify violence and could influence impressionable minds. On Monday, he cited the recent Malayalam film Aavesham as an example, pointing to a police report that claimed some students, after watching the film, attempted to associate with real-life gangsters.