entral Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared the film. He cited that he hopes that no groups would exploit the film for their political gain.

‘We have shown the film to the censor board, the biggest democratic body and they have cleared us. I think we should trust them and if someone wants to see the film, we will definitely show it to them’, Shootjit Sircar said.

Among the various factions demanding a ban of Madras Café is Naam Thamizhar (We Tamils), a Tamil activist group, which has sought a ban on the film for reportedly portraying Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members as terrorists. Those in favour of the film include the Police Commissioner of Chennai, who has gone on record to say there is nothing wrong with the film and that the police will ensure a peaceful release of the film in Chennai.

Viacom18 Motion Pictures and JA Entertainment released a statement saying: ‘We have made a realistic film without been frivolous and over sensationalising anything as we believe that the Indian audiences are now looking for credible and realistic cinema. We have told a story