Parasakthi Censor Row: Sivakarthikeyan Says No Time to Negotiate 25 Cuts

Actor Sivakarthikeyan has reacted to the controversy surrounding his latest release Parasakthi, which was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification with 25 cuts just hours before its theatrical release on January 10.

In an exclusive interview, Sivakarthikeyan said the film’s team was racing against time and focused solely on implementing the censor board’s suggestions rather than questioning or negotiating them. He explained that the changes were carried out in a way that did not affect the film’s narrative or creative essence.

The CBFC asked the makers to alter certain politically sensitive dialogues, including a line originally stating “Hindi has erased my dream,” which was modified to “My only dream is to oppose Hindi imposition.” A voiceover referencing language imposition in other countries was also changed.

Addressing whether the last-minute process was unfair, Sivakarthikeyan said the team had no choice but to prioritise release timelines. He described the final hours before certification as intense, stating that the entire crew worked non-stop to complete the edits and upload the revised version within a narrow 10-hour window.

He acknowledged that with more time, the team might have explained the context behind some of the muted dialogues, but the urgency of release left no room for such discussions. Sivakarthikeyan added that the relief of receiving the certificate on January 9 outweighed the stress of the process.

Directed by Sudha Kongara Prasad, Parasakthi is set against the backdrop of the 1960s anti-Hindi protests and student movements in Madras. The film stars Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela alongside Sivakarthikeyan.

With Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan facing release delays due to a legal battle over certification, Parasakthi has emerged as a solo major Tamil release this Pongal.