In Rajinikanth's filmography of 170+ movies, twenty had been certified A by the Central Board of Film Certification in India until recently. Now, Coolie with its A censor has joined this list, making it the 21st occurrence in 50 years, where a Superstar Rajinikanth film is restricted to adult audiences in India.
List of Rajinikanth movies with A censor:
Movie/Genre | Director | Certification Reason |
Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri (1977) Romantic Drama |
S. P. Muthuraman | Emotional betrayal, mature themes |
Gayathri (1977) Thriller/Drama |
R. Pattabhiraman | Sexual exploitation, voyeurism |
Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu (1978) Romantic Drama |
C. V. Sridhar | Complex relationships, adult themes |
Aval Appadithan (1978) Psychological Drama |
C. Rudhraiah | Feminism, emotional trauma, sexuality |
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil (1978) Revenge Drama |
P. Madhavan | Revenge, mature content |
Kaali (1980) Action Drama |
I. V. Sasi | Prison violence, retribution |
Netrikkan (1981) Psychological Thriller |
S. P. Muthuraman | Womanizing protagonist, adult themes |
Ranga (1982) Crime/Action |
R. Thyagarajan | Underworld violence |
Puthukavithai (1982) Romantic Drama |
S. P. Muthuraman | Emotional depth, manipulation |
Moondru Mugam (1982) Action |
A. Jagannathan | Violent police-criminal conflicts |
Paayum Puli (1983) Action |
S. P. Muthuraman | Gang violence, raw fight sequences |
Sivappu Sooriyan (1983) Action/Crime |
S. P. Muthuraman | Kidnapping, criminal world elements |
Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984) Social Drama |
J. Mahendran | Sexual violence, betrayal |
Naan Mahaan Alla (1984) Revenge Drama |
S. P. Muthuraman | Revenge for assault, intense violence |
Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985) Vigilante Thriller |
S. A. Chandrasekhar | Justice themes, extreme violence |
Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal (1985) Crime Thriller |
Balu Mahendra | Police drama, mature tone |
Viduthalai (1986) Heist Thriller |
K. Vijayan | Betrayal, kidnapping, criminal tension |
Oorkavalan (1987) Village Drama |
Manobala | Superstition, murder mystery |
Kodi Parakkuthu (1988) Political Thriller |
Bharathiraja | Political violence, terrorism |
Siva (1989) Action |
Ameerjan | Intense violence, mature themes |
Coolie (2025) Action Thriller |
Lokesh Kanagaraj | Yet To Be Determined (Likely stylized violence) |
Coolie's A certification comes 36 years since the actor's last. Coolie is also the second Sun Pictures production to get an A-censor after Dhanush's Raayan (2024).
Coolie has action by the National award winning stunt duo Anbariv. The multi-starrer action thriller written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, also stars Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Shruthi Haasan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Aamir Khan, Pooja Hegde, among others.
Coolie is scheduled to release in theaters on August 14, 2025, marking 50 years of Rajinikanth in the film industry. The actor's debut movie Apoorva Raagangal (1975) directed by late Tamil filmmaker K Balachander released on August 15, 1975—when Rajinikanth, formerly a bus conductor in Karnataka, was 25 years old.