National award-winning filmmaker Vetrimaaran has filed a petition in the Madras High Court against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for refusing to grant a censor certificate to Manushi, an upcoming Tamil film produced by his Grass Root Film Company.
Directed by Gopi Nainar and starring Andrea Jeremiah, Manushi reportedly explores the custodial interrogation of a woman, touching upon themes of police violence and state accountability. According to The Hindu, the CBFC rejected certification in September 2024, citing that the film allegedly portrayed the State in a poor light and conflated “leftist communism” with “mainstream communism.”
In his petition, Vetrimaaran argued that he was not given an opportunity to respond or present his side before the CBFC arrived at the decision. He also claimed to have submitted a representation in March 2025, requesting the formation of a fresh review committee that includes human rights activists to reconsider certification for the film.
The filmmaker urged the court to direct the CBFC to re-examine the film and issue a detailed, reasoned order. He also expressed willingness to edit scenes that may not align with constitutional limits on freedom of speech and expression.
The film’s trailer, released in April 2024, features a prominent cast including Nasser, Tamizh, Balaji Sakthivel, and Hakkim Shah. The technical team includes composer Ilaiyaraaja, cinematographer AM Edwin Sakay, and editors Anthony and R Ramar.