'Don't clip our wings': Malayalam film bodies protest against censorship, amid 'JSK' controversy
Several prominent Malayalam film organizations gathered in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday to protest increasing censorship pressures. Under the leadership of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), members of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), Kerala Film Producers' Association, and TV artists stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the Censor Board's regional office at the Chitranjali Studio Complex.
Creative freedom under threat, say industry voices
As a symbolic act, they threw scissors into a bin—an unmistakable message against the growing trend of censoring films and trimming creative expression, as reported by On Manorama.
'This protest goes beyond Janaki': FEFKA's Unnikrishnan speaks out
FEFKA general secretary B Unnikrishnan clarified that the protest was not solely about the controversial denial of screening permission for Janaki Vs State of Kerala.
'This protest is not for Janaki Vs State of Kerala alone,' he said. "We're standing up for our creative freedom. If we don't speak out today, we risk losing that freedom forever.'
The protest marks a rare moment of collective pushback, where filmmakers are demanding that art not be policed by unnecessary institutional interference.
'Even my name might get me into trouble' -
Shaji Kailas
Director Shaji Kailas echoed the concerns, warning that filmmakers may soon be forced to seek approval for their scripts even before filming.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
With a touch of irony, he joked, 'Even my name might get me into trouble.' The immediate spark for the protest was the CBFC's refusal to permit the release of Janaki Vs State of Kerala despite it being cleared with a U/A 13+ certificate.
The CBFC cited issues with the film's title and character names, despite already approving the trailer, which has been screened publicly. The film's team, including producer Phanindra Kumar and director Pravin Narayanan, has now approached the Kerala High Court, arguing that the censor board's stance is inconsistent and unfair.
Starring Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran in the lead, 'JSK' is a court drama film. The movie also has Suresh Gopi's son Madhav Suresh in a pivotal role.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
24 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
5 Malayalam releases to watch on OTT this week: Asif Ali starrer Sarkeet to Shine Tom Chacko's Soothravakyam
Malayalam cinema continues to make its mark on OTT platforms with fresh releases. If you're unsure about what to stream this week, here's a curated list of Malayalam films that deserve a spot on your watchlist. 5 new Malayalam movies to watch on OTT this week 1. Sarkeet Cast: Asif Ali, Orhan Hyder, Divya Prabha, Deepak Parambol, Remya Suresh, Swathi Das Prabhu, Prasanth Alexander Director: Thamar KV Genre: Family Drama Runtime: 2 hours and 5 minutes Where to watch: ManoramaMAX Streaming date: TBA Sarkeet, starring Asif Ali in the lead role, is slated to release on the OTT platform ManoramaMAX. The family drama directed by Thamar KV is expected to premiere soon, although an official streaming date has not been announced yet. The story revolves around a Malayali couple living in the UAE, struggling to raise their son, who has ADHD. Their lives take a new turn when an unemployed man enters the picture, leading to unexpected challenges. 2. Soothravakyam Cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious, Deepak Parambol, Srikanth Kandragula, Binoj Villya, Meenakshi Madhavi, Nazeef, Anagha, Divya M Nair Director: Eugien Jos Chirammel Genre: Comedy Drama Runtime: 2 hours and 24 minutes Where to watch: Lionsgate Play Streaming date: August 21, 2025 Soothravakyam is a comedy drama featuring Shine Tom Chacko in the lead. The film follows the story of Christo Xavier, a sub-inspector, who attempts to transform his police station into a community hub that uplifts local youth. However, conflict arises when one of the students he mentors goes missing, leading to an unexpected turmoil. Apart from Shine, various other actors, like Vincy Aloshious, Deepak Parambol, Srikanth Kandragula, Binoj Villya, and more, are part of the ensemble cast. 3. Kolahalam Cast: Santhosh Puthan, Anusha Aravindakshan, Vishnu Balakrishnan, Priya Sreejith, Swathy Mohanan, Chithra Prasad Director: Rasheed Parambil Genre: Comedy Drama Runtime: 1 hour and 35 minutes Where to watch: SunNXT Streaming date: August 22, 2025 Kolahalam is a heartfelt comedy set during the 16 hours between an old man's death and his funeral. A thief's break-in triggers a chain of chaotic events, resulting in a string of hilarious and emotional moments. 4. Perumani Cast: Sunny Wayne, Vinay Forrt, Lukman Avaran, Deepa Thomas, Radhika Radhakrishnan, Navas Vallikkunnu Director: KB Maju Genre: Comedy Drama Runtime: 2 hours and 17 minutes Where to watch: Saina Play Streaming date: August 21, 2025 Perumani is a Malayalam-language film that was originally released in 2024. A year after its theatrical run, the movie will be available for streaming on the OTT platform, Saina Play. The film focuses on the tale of a Bengali man who finds himself in a Kerala village. As the superstitious villagers come to believe he has a divine presence within him, they do everything they can to make him stay and settle down there. Whether they manage to succeed and what ultimately happens to the man forms the crux of the narrative. 5. Maareesan Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu, Kovai Sarala, Vivek Prasanna, Sithara, PL Thenappan, Livingston, Renuka, Saravana Subbiah Director: Sudheesh Sankar Genre: Comedy Thriller Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes Where to watch: Netflix Streaming date: August 22, 2025 Maareesan is a Tamil-language movie that will be available for streaming with a Malayalam-dub version. The comedy thriller starring Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu is set to hit Netflix and begin streaming on August 22, 2025. The movie follows Dhayalan, a thief who stumbles upon Velayudham Pillai, an amnesiac patient. Hoping to swindle him, Dhayalan inadvertently embarks on a road trip with him, only to uncover a darker secret about Pillai.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Mammootty Makes Full Recovery After Health Complications, To Resume ‘Patriot' Shoot
Mammootty is back in action after health concerns. Close aides confirm his recovery as he gears up to reunite with Mohanlal in Patriot, directed by Mahesh Narayanan. Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty has reportedly made a complete recovery and is preparing for his highly anticipated return to the big screen. The 72-year-old actor, who had been away from the spotlight for months due to health concerns, is now ready to resume work, starting with Patriot, in which he will star alongside Mohanlal. Speculation about Mammootty's health had been rife for months, with rumors suggesting he was undergoing treatment for cancer. Although his team consistently denied the reports, his absence from public events kept fans worried. Now, close aides and senior industry figures have assured admirers that the star is well and excited to return to sets. Industry Rejoices The news of his recovery sparked celebration across the Malayalam film fraternity. Producer Anto Joseph, a long-time associate of Mammootty, was among the first to share hints of the good news on social media, thanking God for answering prayers. Mammootty's aide, George S, also posted a picture of the actor with a heartfelt note of gratitude for the support and love shown during his difficult phase. Superstar Mohanlal further delighted fans by sharing a candid photograph with Mammootty, accompanied by a heart emoji, underscoring the warmth of their bond ahead of their on-screen reunion. Filmmakers including Siby Malayail and Ratheena PT also joined in the cheer, with Ratheena captioning her post 'Double Ok." Actress Maala Parvathi described it as 'the greatest news," expressing her appreciation for the doctors who oversaw his recovery. Projects Lined Up Mammootty will resume shooting for Mahesh Narayanan's Patriot in September, marking one of the most awaited collaborations in Malayalam cinema. Alongside this, he will also complete dubbing for Kalamkaval, a thriller that co-stars Vinayakan. The film is expected to release in theatres later this year, around late September or early October. With his health restored and multiple projects on the horizon, Mammootty's return promises to be a celebratory moment for fans and the industry alike. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Marvel's Wolverine PS5: Everything you need to know
Insomniac Games is developing Marvel's Wolverine, a PlayStation 5 exclusive, promising a mature, character-driven narrative centered on James "Logan" Howlett. While a release date remains unconfirmed, industry speculation suggests 2026 or later, despite active development. The game will feature an original story drawing from Wolverine's comic book mythology, with Madripoor as a key location. Marvel's Wolverine is a highly anticipated action-adventure game that has yet to be released. The video game is being developed by Insomniac Games and will be published by Sony Interactive Entertainment exclusively for PlayStation 5. This standalone title shows how the Marvel universe has expanded, especially after the success of its Spider-Man series. Additionally, the developers have promised to deliver a masterpiece of all time with a mature, character-driven story that will center around the history of James "Logan" Howlett, better known as Wolverine. As of now there is not much information available about the game, but there are a few official announcements made by the developers and some analysis from the teasers. Marvel's Wolverine - PlayStation Showcase 2021: Announcement Teaser Trailer | PS5 What is the release date of the Wolverine PS5 game? As of August 2025, Marvel's Wolverine does not have a confirmed release date or even a specific release window. The developers first announced the game back in September 2021, and it was described as being in "very early development" at that time. However, the recent development indicates that the production of the game is ramping up, and there is also a shift of key team members from Spider-Man 2 to this project. There was also an official statement made by Insomniac Games in the month of April 2025 that reaffirmed that active development is underway but that news will be shared only when the studio is ready. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Weather Tomorrow havadurumu Learn More Undo The industry assumptions, which were potentially fuelled by the unfortunate 2023 data breach, suggest that a release is unlikely before 2026. Hopes remain that a release window might be announced at a future event like Gamescom 2025. What is the storyline of Marvel's Wolverine? Marvel's Wolverine will remain an original, self-contained narrative that will purely run from the character's extensive comic book mythology. From the recent trailer release, we get to know that Madripoor will be a key location of the game. The narrative of the story is expected to have a "mature tone" and will be focused on Logan's past, with widespread speculation that the infamous Weapon X program—where his skeleton was bonded with indestructible adamantium—will be the central plot of the story. Image via Insomniac Games All confirmed characters in Marvel's Wolverine As of now there is no official confirmation upon the characters of the game, and the only character we know is Wolverine himself, James Howlett. However, the 2023 ransomware attack on Insomniac Games has led to the unintended leak of numerous development assets, which likely revealed several other characters slated to appear. Players can expect a roster of characters from Logan's history, which includes both his allies and iconic villains. Marvel's Wolverine: Expected prices, editions, and pre-order details The official pricing and edition details for Marvel's Wolverine are yet to be announced by Sony. But based on the standard pricing model for first-party AAA PS5 titles, the base game is expected to retail at approximately $69.99 / $99.99 CAD . Also, fans can expect a Digital Deluxe or Collector's Edition, which will potentially include: Bonus cosmetic items. An artbook. A soundtrack. Also for now some retailers have already listed placeholder pages for the game, allowing fans to register interest for pre-orders, but these pages carry clear disclaimers that all details are subject to change and that no release date is confirmed. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
