Thalapathy Vijay's Leo unsuitable for children under 14, says UK distributor. Details inside

It seemed BBFC had several concerns regarding the extent of violence portrayed in Leo.

Leo poster

The anticipation for Thalapathy Vijay's upcoming movie Leo is reaching a fever pitch with each passing day. With just one week before its release, the movie is completing censor formalities across the world. The movie's UK distributor, however, seemed to have had a challenging time with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

It seemed BBFC had several concerns regarding the extent of violence portrayed in Leo. So much so that this movie has been marked unsuitable for children under 14.

ALSO READ: Thalapathy Vijay's Leo is an experimental film: Lokesh Kanagaraj explains

Leo for mature audience only

In a detailed statement, Ahimsa Entertainment explained the rationale behind its decision. "#LEO is a 100% Lokesh Kanagaraj film — intensely raw and violent. Strictly for ages 15+. We've decided against a 12A version to stay true to the film's intent," said the distributor.

The distributors revealed that they even made some alterations to the movie to make it accessible to more younger audiences in vain. "After discussions with the BBFC, we found a path to a "15" rated version of "LEO" with very minimal unnoticeable refining (softening ultra close-up shots of just a few violent and gory aftermaths). Working closely with the producers, we ensured these updates were done with precision, with zero effects to the film's core, flow, standout moments, and Thalapathy's much-loved mass appeal," the distributors said.

Vijay's popularity with young audience

It is a setback for the stakeholders considering the popularity of Thalapathy Vijay among children aged 4 to 14. However, crafting a more child-friendly version of Leo would require the removal of all major action sequences and key plot developments, which are integral highlights of the film.

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"This would make the film very different from its original version, and it's not a direction we're looking to explore. To all parents who looked forward to bringing their kids to this film, we sincerely apologize," said the distributors.

Written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the movie has been cleared by the censor board with a U/A certification in India. It means that children under 12 years of age will have to be accompanied by their parents to watch this movie in cinemas.

Leo is due in cinemas on October 19.

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