Andrea Jeremiah’s films seem to be at the center of back-to-back controversies. After the heated debate around her film Bad Girl, another project titled Manushi faced censorship challenges before release. Produced by director Vetrimaaran and directed by Gopi Nayar, with music by Ilayaraja, Manushi was denied certification by the Censor Board.
The board had flagged 25 scenes for deletion and suggested replacing 12 more, claiming that certain dialogues and sequences were objectionable. Strongly opposing this, Vetrimaaran moved the Madras High Court, arguing that the film’s intent was artistic, not offensive.
On August 24, Justice Anand Venkatesh personally viewed the film before passing a judgment. He observed that Manushi openly discussed sensitive themes such as faith, science, identity, and ideology. While the judge felt that not all the cuts suggested by the board were necessary, he did recommend rearranging certain sequences and trimming a few portions. This, he said, would ensure a balance between creative freedom and responsible regulation.
Following this assessment, the court directed the producers to make the required changes and resubmit the film for certification. It also instructed the Censor Board to grant clearance within two weeks of the revised version being filed.
The verdict has reignited the ongoing debate around artistic freedom and censorship in Indian cinema. Coming right after the uproar over Bad Girl, the case of Manushi once again highlights how Andrea Jeremiah’s films are sparking conversations about bold storytelling, societal sensitivities, and the role of regulatory authorities.
