Janaki Vs State Of Kerala: Censor Row Escalates As Revising Committee Flags 'Janaki'; Industry To Protest

Janaki Vs State Of Kerala Censor Row: The release of JSK-Janaki Vs State Of Kerala, the upcoming courtroom drama featuring Suresh Gopi in the lead, has encountered another significant roadblock. The Revising Committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly demanded that both the film's title and the name of its central character, Janaki, be changed before the film can be granted permission to release.

According to a report by Reporter Live, the Revising Committee watched the film in Mumbai earlier today and communicated its decision to the film's director, Pravin Narayanan, and the producers. The committee's stance follows an earlier objection by the CBFC, which flagged the use of the name "Janaki"-considered another name for the Hindu goddess Sita-as potentially inappropriate for the context of the film.

Censors Object, Industry Plans Protest

The character name "Janaki" reportedly appears over 90 times in the film. Any change to the name at this stage would necessitate a complete redubbing, complicating the post-production process. With just a day to go until its scheduled release on June 27, the film's future is now uncertain.

This move has triggered widespread reactions from within the Malayalam film industry. Several industry bodies, including the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and the Kerala Producers Association, have condemned the CBFC's intervention and have reportedly called for a protest march to the censor board's office in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

The film's producers, Cosmos Entertainments, had previously approached the High Court after being denied clearance. The court had sought a response from the CBFC, which in turn indicated that the Revising Committee would review the film. Now that the committee has echoed the board's earlier concerns, legal intervention may once again become central to resolving the impasse.

The Kerala regional censor board had earlier granted the film a U/A 13+ certificate with no cuts, and it was only afterward that the central board's objections were raised. The filmmakers argue that the use of the name "Janaki" is not intended to disrespect religious sentiments and is essential to the narrative.

JSK - Janaki Vs State Of Kerala stars Suresh Gopi as a lawyer representing Janaki, a woman fighting a legal battle after a personal trauma. The film also features Anupama Parameswaran, Divya Pillai, and Sruthy Ramachandran. The production is a collaboration between Cosmos Entertainments and Karthik Kreations.

As of now, the film's release remains stalled, and all eyes are on the court's next move.