Meera Kathiravan's 'Habeebi' Cleared with U Certificate by CBFC

Meera Kathiravan's romantic drama 'Habeebi' has been awarded a U certificate by the CBFC, clearing it for release. The film stars Dhanush's father Kasthuri Raja and rising actress Malavika Manoj in lead roles. Malavika Manoj plays Nilofer Nisha, nicknamed 'Nilavu Pulla', and was chosen after auditioning over 200 actresses for her expressive eyes. The film, set for worldwide release by Romeo Pictures Raahul, explores Tamil Muslim life with authenticity and features music by Sam C.S.

Key Points: 'Habeebi' Gets U Certificate, Starring Kasthuri Raja

  • Film 'Habeebi' cleared with U certificate
  • Stars Kasthuri Raja and Malavika Manoj
  • Malavika Manoj plays Nilofer Nisha, nicknamed 'Nilavu Pulla'
  • Director praised her expressive performance after 200-250 auditions
  • Film explores Tamil Muslim life and emotions authentically
3 min read

Meera Kathiravan's 'Habeebi' cleared for release with a 'U' certificate

Meera Kathiravan's 'Habeebi', starring Kasthuri Raja and Malavika Manoj, gets a U certificate. A wholesome family entertainer set for release.

"Malavika Manoj plays a character named Nilofer Nisha and will be fondly addressed by all the characters as 'Nilavu Pulla'. - Meera Kathiravan"

Chennai, May 14

If sources in the industry are to be believed, the Central Board of Film Certification has now cleared critically acclaimed director Meera Kathiravan's eagerly awaited romantic drama, 'Habeebi', featuring actor Dhanush's father Kasthuri Raja and Malavika Manoj in the lead, for release with a clean 'U' certificate.

Sources in the know claim that the film has now successfully completed its censor formalities and that it has been awarded a clean 'U' certificate by the Censor Board officials, who appreciated the team for presenting a wholesome family entertainer enriched with meaningful emotions and positive values.

For the unaware, actress Malavika Manoj plays a character called Nilofer Nisha in the film. Interestingly, her nickname in the romantic drama is 'Nilavu Pulla' (Moon Child).

Speaking about the role Malavika Manoj, who is riding high on the success of her back-to-back films 'Joe' and 'Aan Paavam Polladhadhu', plays in the film, director Meera Kathiravan, had, in an earlier interview, disclosed, "Malavika Manoj plays a character named Nilofer Nisha and will be fondly addressed by all the characters as 'Nilavu Pulla'. When I wrote the script and developed this character, I wanted someone who could portray a girl from the 90s with variations in appearance across two different time periods. My team and I auditioned more than 200-250 artistes before we came across Malavika Manoj. I felt she was the right choice, especially since the role demanded expressive eyes."

The director had further said, "After auditioning her, it was wonderful to see the encouragement from her family and her immense passion for acting. At that time, she had completed work on her Malayalam debut 'Prakasham Paravatte', which hadn't been released yet. Once she joined us, she impressed everyone on set. Since the role relied heavily on expressions and body language rather than dialogues, we were initially curious about how she would handle it. But she delivered a beautiful performance. Everyone who has watched the film has been appreciating her work. Now, the grand success of her films like 'Joe' and 'Aan Paavam Polladhadhu' has added even more strength and reach to 'Habeebi'."

Sources in the unit say 'Habeebi' will be a heartfelt narrative that portrays the life, culture, and emotional landscape of Tamil Muslims with authenticity and sensitivity. True to the meaning of its title, "My Beloved," the film will explore themes of love, human connection, and lived experiences.

The film is to be released worldwide by Romeo Pictures Raahul, known for backing both blockbuster entertainers and meaningful content-driven cinema. Music for the film has been composed by Sam C.S.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Glad to see Meera Kathiravan getting her film through after all the delays. The casting sounds interesting - Dhanush's father acting alongside a new face like Malavika. But I hope the film doesn't just romanticize the community and actually shows real struggles of Tamil Muslims in today's India. We need more nuanced stories.
R
Rohit P
A proper family entertainer with emotional depth? Count me in! The way they described the character Nilofer Nisha and her nickname 'Nilavu Pulla' seems so endearing. Also Sam CS is doing the music, so expecting some lovely songs. 😊
M
Michael C
Interesting to see a film centered around Tamil Muslim culture getting mainstream attention. As an outsider to this community, I hope the film offers authentic representation. The 200-250 auditions for the female lead shows the director's commitment to finding the right person. Props to Malavika for landing the role!
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Kavya N
I love that they're not just going for commercial masala but something meaningful. A 'U' certificate for a film dealing with cultural themes is rare these days. My only concern is whether it will reach rural audiences properly. Hope Romeo Pictures distributes it widely, not just in multiplexes. 🙌
J
Jessica F
That's great for Malavika Manoj - from struggling to find release for her debut to now having back-to-back successes and this film cleared with U certificate. The 'expressive eyes' comment by the director is interesting. Will definitely watch this for the cultural angle and good performances.

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