14 hours ago
Difficult to change title: Janaki vs State of Kerala director on board's demand
Director Pravin Narayanan has defended the title of 'Janaki vs State of Kerala', suggesting that changing it at this stage is impractical. The release of the Malayalam film, starring minister Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran, has been delayed following a demand from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to change its title. The CBFC cited religious concerns, noting that 'Janaki' refers to the Hindu goddess Sita, and their objection to using the name for a sexual assault filmmaker said, "We accept that Janaki is also another name for Goddess Sita, but it's such a common name used in many parts of the country. Through our movie, we never tried to defame Goddess Sita or any other belief system reluctant in our country."He further added, 'Maybe CBFC could have had a different perspective for the name of character. We are on the final stage of production and to rename the character at this stage is difficult for us.'
Film associations across Kerala have rallied against the CBFC's request, arguing that it constitutes unnecessary interference in artistic expression. The Kerala High Court has also raised questions regarding the CBFC's decision, pointing out that the film's trailer was approved without film was originally set for release on 20 June, but the conflict has led to significant delays. The film's creators have expressed frustration, describing the CBFC's demands as "arbitrary" and "unwarranted."The Kerala High Court has asked the CBFC to provide a detailed explanation by July 2. Until a resolution is reached, the film's fate hangs in the balance, with Narayanan and his team hoping for a favourable outcome. Meanwhile, the court will watch the film on July 5 and will share its views in the next hearing, scheduled on July court's enquiry into why the film's name should be altered, especially when films named after deities are common in Indian cinema, casts doubt on the CBFC's film stars Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran in lead roles. The film community and supporters continue to advocate for its release under its original title.- Ends
