Sivakarthikeyan Opens Up On Parasakthi’s 25 Cuts, Says ‘Our Focus Was…’

Sivakarthikeyan’s much-awaited film Parasakthi finally made it to theatres on Saturday, but not without facing major challenges ahead of its release. The political historical drama was caught in a tense standoff with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), as the makers struggled to obtain the censor certificate until the very last moment.

The film ultimately received approval only after implementing 25 cuts suggested by the board, a move that quickly became a hot topic of discussion online. Amid the growing debate, Sivakarthikeyan has now opened up about the pressure-filled process and the circumstances under which the film was cleared.

Sivakarthikeyan Breaks Silence on Last-Minute Censor Cuts

Speaking to the Indian Express, Sivakarthikeyan

reflected on how rushed the entire censoring process was, explaining that the team barely had time to understand the reasoning behind the suggested modifications. According to the actor, their priority was to ensure the film was released on time without compromising its creative integrity.

He said, “The Censor Board operates according to their own regulations and criteria. Our team’s complete focus was on how we could implement the changes they suggested in a way that wouldn’t affect the creativity of the film. We didn’t have time to figure out why they suggested these changes.”

‘We Were Chasing a Release Date,’ Says Sivakarthikeyan

Elaborating further, Sivakarthikeyan revealed that the censor recommendations arrived extremely late, leaving the team with no option but to act swiftly. He explained that once the changes were received, the makers immediately worked on executing them and uploading the revised version to QUBE.

He stated, “ Our main focus was to release the film as we were chasing a release date. The Censor Board functions according to their own regulations, and we didn’t have time to analyse whether it was an advantage or disadvantage.”

According to the actor, meeting the release deadline became the sole objective during those critical hours.

Sivakarthikeyan On Freedom Of Expression And Time Constraints

When asked if such last-minute interventions raise concerns about creative freedom, Sivakarthikeyan responded with a measured and diplomatic outlook. He shared, “If we had more time, we might have explained to them the context of certain dialogues that they asked us to mute.”

The actor also disclosed that the team had just 10 hours to complete all the mandated changes, describing the experience as exhausting yet ultimately successful.

Highlighting the intensity of the situation, Sivakarthikeyan compared the final hours before release to a high-pressure operation. He said the entire unit remained on standby around the clock to ensure nothing went wrong. Despite the difficulties, the actor expressed relief that the edits were manageable and did not damage the viewing experience.

CBFC Controversy Deepens Amid Jana Nayakan Release Uncertainty

The controversy around Parasakthi has emerged at a time when another major festive release, Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayakan, is also facing uncertainty. The postponement of Vijay’s film has triggered strong reactions across the industry, with several filmmakers voicing concerns over the certification process.

Directors such as Ram Gopal Varma and Karthik Subbaraj have publicly criticised what they describe as an irregular and unpredictable approach by the CBFC, further intensifying the debate around creative freedom and regulatory oversight.

Sudha Kongara Shares A Contrasting View On CBFC Experience
Offering a different perspective, Parasakthi director Sudha Kongara had earlier spoken positively about her interactions with the censor board.

In an interview with Galatta Plus, she described the CBFC as fair and democratic based on her personal experience. She explained that while people often assume “the censor board is terrible,” her experience was quite different, as the questions and reservations raised were reasonable and justified. According to her, the way the CBFC handled the film and allowed it “to live and breathe” felt balanced and fair overall.