Mammootty's Film 'Kaathal – The Core' Faces Ban In Gulf Countries, Reasons Speculated Around LGBTQ Content

Mammootty's 'Kaathal - The Core' Faces Ban In Gulf: The Gulf region witnesses a prohibition on the screening of the highly anticipated Mammootty starrer 'Kaathal - The Core,' directed by Jeo Baby. Initially banned in Qatar and Kuwait, reports now confirm Saudi Arabia's denial of permission by its Censor Board.

Earlier, the movie was slated for screening at Vox Cinemas in the UAE; here, too, the movie faced a sudden withdrawal. Abdul Samad, CEO of Truth Global Films, the film's Gulf distributors, disclosed the bans in Qatar and Kuwait, emphasising the film's subject as the reason for the denial.

Censor certificates crucial for release in these countries have been declined, severely affecting the film's scheduled release on the 23rd of this month.

Malayalam cinema, especially films featuring stars like Mammootty and Mohanlal, enjoys a significant fanbase in Gulf theatres, prompting eager anticipation for 'Kaathal - The Core.' The potential of this film to screen across numerous theatres in the Gulf translates to substantial profits for its stakeholders.

The film's significance is heightened by Mammootty's intense performance and actress Jyothika's return to Malayalam cinema after a 13-year hiatus. Notably, this marks their first collaboration. The song "Ennum En Kaaval," featuring lyrics by poet Anwar Ali, composed by Mathews Pulickan, and sung by G. Venugopal and K.S. Chitra, has already captivated music enthusiasts.

Content Restrictions In Gulf: 'Kaathal - The Core' And The Ongoing Screening Dilemma

Earlier, Mohanlal's film 'Monster,' directed by Vysakh, faced a similar ban. The film was denied release in multiple countries at the time due to its LGBTQ content. The ban was lifted in Bahrain after the producers complied with the censor board's request to trim 13 minutes from the film.

Films dealing with topics such as homosexuality, regardless of language, are denied permission to be screened in some Gulf countries. Out of these, English films have been denied the highest number of screening permits so far. Recently, the UAE banned the animated movie 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.'

This is because the film deals with the topic of transgender people. Additionally, Kuwait and Lebanon denied permission for the English film 'Barbie.' The ban was based on content that was against public decency, social norms, and traditional values.

'Kaathal - The Core' boasts a stellar cast, with Mammootty as Mathew Devassy, Omana's husband, Jyothika as Omana Mathew, Mathew's wife, Joji John as Tomy, Mathew's brother-in-law, Jisshu Sengupta, Muthumani as Adv.Ameera, Chinnu Chandni, Sudhi Kozhikode, Alex Alister as Kuttayi, Anagha Maya Ravi as Femi Mathew, Mathew and Omana's daughter, Josey Sijo as Sibin Teekoy, and others. Written by Adarsh Sukumaran and Paulson Skaria, the film is produced by Mammootty under Mammootty Kampany, with Salu K. Thomas managing cinematography and Francies Louis overseeing editing. Distribution is handled by Wayfarer Films.