'Janaki V v/s State of Kerala' row: Suresh Gopi calls for focus on message, not controversy - 'let Janaki speak'
On the day of 'Janaki V v/s State of Kerala's release, veteran actor
Suresh Gopi
made an impassioned appeal to let the voice of the film be highlighted beyond any noise of controversy.
As reported by Mathrubhumi, breaking his silence for the first time on the censorship row that dogged the film, Suresh Gopi urged viewers to look past the headlines and absorb the social message at its heart.
Not just a film, but a statement
Speaking to reporters after attending the premiere at Ragam Theatre in Thrissur, Gopi said, "JSK is being widely accepted. The film itself is free of controversy and highlights a relevant, pressing issue. Efforts to sensationalize it should not distract from the powerful message it conveys."
02:26
Janaki V vs State Of Kerala - Official Trailer
He emphasized that JSK should be seen as more than entertainment — it's a mirror held up to society's treatment of women. 'Let Janaki's voice be the voice of all women.
Let it reflect the realities we often ignore. Laws are not enough; their proper implementation is key,' Suresh Gopi added.
From censorship to courtroom drama
The film, directed by Pravin Narayanan, stars Anupama Parameswaran in the titular role of Janaki, a woman who takes on the system. However, even before release, the film faced hurdles. The CBFC objected to the use of the full name "Janaki" in the title, prompting the makers to approach the High Court.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
Eventually, the film was cleared under the modified title 'Janaki V v/s State of Kerala', with only the initial used to denote the protagonist.
Movie hits the big screens
Meanwhile, 'JSK' has finally hit the big screens and according to the Sacnilk website, the Suresh Gopi starrer mints Rs 1 crore on day 1. ETimes review for the film reads, "The movie suffers from an uneven screenplay that struggles to hold its narrative together. The plot jumps between subplots without building real momentum, and some characters like Vincy Aloshious's Nimisha feel underwritten. The pacing is inconsistent, and the film often wavers between genres without clear focus.
While the premise is promising, the writing lacks the sharpness needed to fully explore its emotional and thematic potential."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Hrithik Roshan, Vidya Balan changed after success': Vidhu Vinod Chopra says, ‘Spine is connected to bank balance'
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra is one of the most successful people in Hindi cinema, having produced blockbusters such as Munna Bhai MBBS and 3 Idiots. Much like the protagonist of Munna Bhai, the movie that made him quite a wealthy man, Chopra doesn't mince his words when talking about Bollywood, and how the industry works. He recently talked about collaborating with many filmmakers and actors who went on to become big names, and commented on how success changes a human being. During a Creator x Creator episode hosted by SCREEN, Chopra sat down with director Jaskunwar Kohli, who made the documentary Zero Se Restart, based on the making of Chopra's 12th Fail. Kohli wanted to know Chopra's philosophy behind hiring people to work for him and why he leans towards new faces and inexperienced talent. Chopra replied, 'There is more purity in new people, less corruption. Many people who assisted me have become great filmmakers today; when I meet them now, I can see the difference. When they worked with me, there was a certain purity. Unfortunately, if I cast a new face in my film and that one movie does well, it changes them.' ALSO READ: Exclusive | Vidya Balan says Vidhu Vinod Chopra cast her as Parineeta after seeing anger in her eyes, thought she was giving him gaali: Parineeta turns 20 While he didn't mention the name of any filmmakers, Chopra did name some actors who he thinks have changed since their position in the film industry has improved. 'Hrithik Roshan, Vidya Balan, and Boman Irani all did films with me at the start of their careers, and the list goes on. As they become successful, they change. That's why I like people who are nobodies, because once you become somebody, you don't remain the same person,' he said. Chopra added that producers, directors, and actors don't care anymore about what they are creating, as long as it is selling well enough. He said, 'The people only care about the hits these days. No one has a vision, and no one wants to create for the joy of creating. They make one massive film with a Rs 400 cr0re box office collection, and suddenly they start walking differently.' Chopra even gave an example of this and told a story of a producer he used to work with and how his entire personality changed after one of his films found success. 'There was a producer who I knew, and he was always very polite while talking and had a soft demeanour. Suddenly one day, he meets me with his chest puffed and some weight in his voice. I asked him, 'Teri koi picture hit ho gayi (Did one of your films succeed)?' He said, 'Sir, you know everything; my film did succeed.' I told him that I had no idea that one of his films worked; all I knew was that his spine is connected to his bank balance, and that's why he was walking upright. These days the spine is always connected to the bank balance and not the quality of their work,' concluded Chopra. ALSO READ: 'They said Vidhu Vinod Chopra bribed me with Rs 8 crore to not make OMG': Director Umesh Shukla opens up on PK comparisons It's interesting to note that Chopra himself has been accused of changing as a person upon achieving success by Paresh Rawal, who turned down Munna Bhai for the same reason. He told The Lallantop, 'He is someone who started ignoring the people he started off with, especially after becoming big in his career. I was supposed to do Munna Bhai. We were discussing remuneration, and in my head, I wanted Rs 15 lakhs. Vidhu also offered the same number, but the way he said 'I'll give you 15' miffed me. I asked for Rs 50 lakhs, and decided to not budge from my want just to not take arrogance from anyone.' In a past interaction, the filmmaker recalled when Sanjay Leela Bhansali was his assistant. Chatting with Bollywood Hungama, he said, 'Sanjay Bhansali, ab toh woh Sanjay Leela Bhansali hogaya hai. Woh mera assistant tha. MTV mein kuch award milne they 1942 ko direction ke liye, maine usko bola jaa le. Ab toh zor se chillata hai, tab toh ghabrate ghabrate award lene gaya tha (Sanjay Bhansali, who now goes by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was my assistant. I won an award for 1942, and I sent him to collect it. He screams a lot these days, but back then, he was a meek guy).'Chopra's last film as a director was 12th Fail, starring Vikrant Massey, and the film received wide critical acclaim along with love from the general public.
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Model Ruchi Gujjar slaps ‘So Long Valley' producer Karan Singh at movie premiere, files FIR over Rs 23L film deal fraud
Image credit: Screengrab from the viral video NEW DELHI: An FIR has been registered against the producer of the Hindi film So Long Valley for allegedly cheating model Ruchi Gujjar of Rs 23 lakh, Mumbai Police said on Saturday. Viral videos from the movie's Friday night premiere showed Gujjar slapping producer Karan Singh on stage. Police said the FIR was filed a day earlier at Oshiwara police station under various sections related to cheating. According to the complaint, Singh allegedly took Rs 23 lakh from Gujjar, promising her a stake in a television movie project, including profit share and on-screen credit. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai However, the model claimed the project never took off, and Singh did not return the money. 'The complainant stated that the project never materialised and Singh didn't return her money,' a police official said. Gujjar's lawyer also said a second FIR would be filed at Amboli police station against Singh for allegedly assaulting the model. So Long Valley is a Hindi-language crime thriller featuring Tridha Choudhury and Vikram Kochhar.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Coldplay star's ex Gwyneth Paltrow becomes Astronomer's "spokesperson": Social media explodes
Astronomer, the AI/data ops startup that went viral for all the wrong reasons, has just dropped a bold PR move: Gwyneth Paltrow , ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin , is playing the role of their temporary spokesperson. It's thought‑provoking, cheeky—and yes, it's totally capitalizing on the buzz. What happened (in case you missed it) It all started at a Coldplay concert on July 15. A Kiss Cam captured Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot in a cozy moment. They quickly shied away, looking mortified. Chris Martin quipped on stage, 'Either they're having an affair or just really shy.' The internet explosion that followed led to resignations—and a full-on PR crisis. About a week later, Astronomer posted a video featuring Gwyneth Paltrow. She introduces herself calmly, saying: 'I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer.' She deadpans, 'Yes... Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow,' turning the viral moment into a data‑tech pitch. It's like watching the calmest damage control ever. Netizens are calling it a PR masterstroke—'marketing jiu‑jitsu' that turned a viral scandal into brand awareness. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo One user said this was '10/10 PR recovery.' Social media lit up Social media lit up after news broke that Gwyneth Paltrow—yes, Chris Martin's ex—was hired as a temporary spokesperson by Astronomer, the data platform making headlines for all the wrong reasons. 'Astronomer picking Chris Martin's ex-wife as their spokesperson is diabolical marketing and a pretty entertaining crisis recovery move,' tweeted @mickeynegus, summing up the internet's collective jaw-drop. Meanwhile, @LloydMathias chimed in with a perfectly Goop-flavored take: 'Brilliant come back from @astronomerio using Gwyneth Paltrow as temp spokie. She cleverly cuts off Q&As: 'OMG what the actual f—' & 'How is your social media team holding—" to expertly shift focus back to brand. Masterful crisis recovery! Well played.' Who is Astronomer's CEO now? Astronomer's interim CEO, Pete DeJoy, has stepped in after Byron's resignation. He described the media attention as 'unusual and surreal,' adding that the scandal unexpectedly made Astronomer a household name in data automation. Paltrow's casting is ironic gold: she was married to Coldplay's Chris Martin. Now she's tongue-in-cheek fronting the company that got dragged into the drama. It's absurd—and hilarious. Astronomer turned a cringe kiss cam moment into a viral comeback—by starring Gwyneth Paltrow in the kind of eyebrow‑raising cameo we'd never see in traditional crisis PR.
