Mersal has not been issued a censor certificate, according to a leaked email from CBFC regional officer Mathialagen.
A screenshot of the email makes it clear that the film (which was said to have received a U/A certificate earlier this month) had not been issued the certificate as the makers did not submit a No Objection Certificate from the Animal Welfare Board of India.
#CBFC makes it clear that #Mersal has not been issued the censor certificate! On Monday a clearer picture would emerge. pic.twitter.com/LNJ5vXmGXT
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) October 13, 2017
According to a source from the CBFC, the film contains extensive sequences featuring pigeons and snakes. In this situation, an approval from the AWBI is mandatory. As Atlee and his producers, Thenandal Studios, did not present the CBFC with such a document, the censor process was not completed.
Despite this, an announcement was made on behalf of the makers that the film has been certified U/A.
A spokesperson for the film has said that the makers are confident of releasing the film by Diwali. Bookings for the film have already opened in theatres across Tamil Nadu.
Image Courtesy: News 18
