📌 Key Points
- A-Cert shock for ‘Couple Friendly’! Producer to meet PM Modi.
- Prabhas lauded it, yet A-cert crippled family audience collections.
- Film loses deserved revenue; blames Censor Board’s unfair ‘A’.
- Widespread issue: Five films this year faced similar Censor woes!
Telugu film producer Dheeraj Mogilineni is taking his fight against the Censor Board’s ‘A’ certificate for ‘Couple Friendly’ all the way to Prime Minister Modi. Despite positive reviews and Rebel Star Prabhas’s praise, the film’s collections are suffering, with Dheeraj blaming the adult rating for deterring family audiences. This high-stakes protest highlights growing industry concerns.
Censor Blow Hits Praised ‘Couple Friendly’
‘A’ Certificate for ‘Couple Friendly’: Producer Dheeraj to Meet PM Modi Amidst Collection Worries! Producer Dheeraj Mogilineni has expressed severe dissatisfaction with the Censor Board’s decision to issue an ‘A’ certificate for the film ‘Couple Friendly’, starring Santhosh Sobhan and Manasa Varanasi. The film, directed by Ashwin Chandrasekhar, was released on February 14th to coincide with Valentine’s Day and garnered positive word-of-mouth. Rebel Star Prabhas also praised the film, remarking, “Just as ‘Varsham’ was a significant film for me, ‘Couple Friendly’ will be a landmark movie for Santhosh Sobhan,” a commendation that further piqued audience interest. Despite this positive reception and buzz, the film was issued an ‘A’ certificate by the Censor Board, a decision the film’s team is now protesting. Dheeraj voiced concern that this decision is causing a decline in the film’s collections, preventing family audiences from attending and adversely impacting revenue. His comments, blaming the ‘A’ certificate for the film’s poor box office collections despite its positive reception, are currently going viral on social media.
Speaking to the media amidst the film’s positive run, Dheeraj Mogilineni made some striking remarks. He stated, “Today is the Shivaratri festival, and while families and children would have wanted to watch the film together, they are unable to come to the theatres because of this ‘A’ certificate. As a result, despite the appreciation our film has received, we, as producers, are not earning the revenue we deserve.” He highlighted that this issue isn’t unique to ‘Couple Friendly‘, as approximately five other films this year have encountered similar ‘A’ certificate challenges. He also mentioned that his attempts to contact Dil Raju regarding this matter were fruitless. “Dil Raju also expressed helplessness, stating that censor decisions originate from Mumbai and there’s little he can do,” Dheeraj explained.
Producer Seeks PM Modi’s Censor Help
“However, to voice our pain, we are prepared to even approach Prime Minister Modi. Perhaps then we will get justice. Such problems are not exclusive to our film; about five films in this very year have faced the same issue.” Dheeraj reiterated his frustration, emphasizing that the ‘A’ certificate prevents family audiences, thus directly reducing the film’s revenue. He further announced his intention to meet Prime Minister Modi regarding this issue, a decision that has sparked considerable discussion within the film industry. He also revealed plans to release another love story with the same cast and crew on February 14th next year, a prospect fans are reportedly looking forward to. The response to Dheeraj Mogilineni’s bold move to address the ‘A’ certificate issue with the Prime Minister remains to be seen.
Looking Ahead
Dheeraj’s bold appeal to PM Modi over the ‘A’ certificate marks a watershed moment for our industry. Will this intervention finally secure fairer certification, protecting creative vision and crucial family audiences? The South watches keenly, hoping this brave move brings the systemic change filmmakers urgently need.
