Malayalam blockbuster Marco banned from Indian television channels: Reports

Until a few weeks ago, South Indian actor Unni Mukundan was the man of the moment, riding high on the success of his hyper-violent blockbuster Marco. However, the film is now facing a major setback, as India’s censorship body, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), has sought to ban its television broadcast, citing excessive violence. The board has rejected Marco's satellite rights, effectively blocking its TV screening.

Reports also suggest that the CBFC is pushing for a ban on its streaming rights as well. Currently, the film is available on the OTT platform Sony Liv. Marco's extreme violence has sparked polarizing reactions, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan among those criticizing its graphic content.

In an exclusive interview in Dubai a few months ago, a muscled-up Mukundan had spoken to us about the mixed reactions that his film evoked.

"I’ve read the reviews—some love it, some hate it," he says, clearly enjoying the debate Marco has sparked.

"But isn’t that what cinema should do? Provoke, challenge, and start conversations?"

In the same interview, Mukundan also shared insights into why he’s thrilled by comparisons to Animal, directed by the controversial director Sandeep Reddy Vanga.

Marco's Hindi version was also a big hit. The actor claimed it started with just 30 shows in the Hindi-speaking belt, earning about Rs 30,000 on its first day, but later saw over 3,000 shows in Hindi!

"We’ve been upfront about Marco being the most violent film in Malayalam cinema. We’re even planning to release it in South Korea, where audiences are used to graphic storytelling. Still, I’ve read the polarizing reviews. Some people love it and watch it repeatedly; others find it too extreme. That’s okay. Cinema should provoke conversations, and Marco does that. But let me be clear: this isn’t violence for the sake of it. It’s about reflecting the raw intensity of Marco’s character and his world."