CBFC Flags Religious Sensitivity In Janaki v/s State Of Kerala, Filmmakers Agree To Title Change

Amid mounting debate, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) recently revealed its reasons for initially withholding certification from the Malayalam courtroom drama 'Janaki v/s State of Kerala'. In an affidavit submitted to the Kerala High Court, the board pointed to scenes in the film that it claimed could incite communal discord, particularly the portrayal of a rape survivor named Janaki being cross-examined in court by a man from a different religious background.

Rajendra Singh, CEO of the CBFC (Mumbai), emphasized that such imagery could disrupt societal harmony. “She should do something about the bridge of her nose,” Singh said, pointing to concerns about the interfaith nature of the interaction. He further noted that the protagonist’s name—Janaki, a reference to the revered Goddess Sita—added to the board’s apprehensions, especially given the context of the courtroom confrontation.

Filmmakers Agree to Compromise After Legal Push

The board’s affidavit expressed concern that a woman named after a goddess being “aided by a man of one religion and cross-examined aggressively by a man of another” might “disturb communal harmony and create polarising narratives.” Singh insisted that films involving characters named after religious icons should be viewed through the lens of an “average moral person with common sense and religious sensibility.”

In response to these objections and following prolonged negotiations, the film’s producers agreed to rename the film to V Janaki v/s State of Kerala. They also informed the Kerala High Court that two specific utterances of the name “Janaki” within the film would be muted.

Legal Intervention Clears Path to Certification

Justice N Nagaresh, who personally screened the film, issued an interim directive instructing the filmmakers to submit the revised cut to the CBFC. The board was ordered to grant certification within three days of receiving the edited version. The matter is set to come up again in court on July 16.

Originally slated for a June 27 release, the film’s debut was pushed back due to the certification dispute. With the revisions in place, the producers are now aiming for a tentative release date of July 18.

Starring Suresh Gopi, the film explores the journey of a sexual assault survivor seeking justice through the legal system. While it has sparked necessary conversations around censorship and religious sensitivities, it is now set to reach audiences with a new title and key changes.

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