Getting a film to the release date is one thing. Getting it past the censor board without last-minute trouble is another. Sree Vishnu’s Comrade Kalyan has gone through that experience. The film reportedly faced hurdles, was sent to the Revising Committee and later had to make changes to some scenes and dialogues before getting a UA 16+ certificate.
What makes this worth discussing now is the changing approach to film certification. The 2024 rules introduced age categories such as UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+, giving the board more options while certifying films. But for filmmakers, it also means that certain scenes and dialogues can come under closer examination before release.
This can be a headache when a particular scene is important to the story. By the time a film reaches the censor board, there may be very little room left for major changes. Yet makers may have to do exactly that if objections are raised.
There is no clear evidence that the new rules caused the problems faced by Comrade Kalyan. But the film shows how a release can still hit a roadblock at the final stage.
The bigger question is simple- will filmmakers now start thinking about the censor board even while writing their stories?
