Latest news with #Padmakumar
The Print
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
BJP minister Suresh Gopi's Malayalam film faces censor board objection over use of name ‘Janaki'
The movie is set to be released 27 June. However, it landed in trouble when sent for the CBFC clearance. Directed by Pravin Narayanan, 'Janaki Versus State of Kerala' revolves around the titular character, Janaki, essayed by actor Anupama Parameswaran, fighting for justice after a traumatic event. She is represented by another lead character played by actor-politician Suresh Gopi. Thiruvananthapuram: A Suresh Gopi-starrer Malayalam movie showcasing a woman's legal battle against the Kerala government has landed in controversy after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) objected to the use of the name of Goddess Sita. Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) general secretary B. Unnikrishnan said the Board asked the crew to change the name 'Janaki' as the character is undergoing a traumatic event in the movie. 'The story is about a woman battling against the State after she faced an atrocity. They say that a woman like that should not be named after the goddess Sita. We all know that it's strange. The CBFC has guidelines, and we all make movie content based on that. That guideline doesn't have any rules like this,' Unnikrishnan told the media on Sunday. The film crew, he said, hasn't received an official show cause notice yet but was told clearly by the CBFC that 'Janaki' should be removed from the title as well as the character name. 'If they give us the names that we can use in guidelines, we will make movies like that. Where are we headed? If the characters are Hindus, then the chances are that it could be of a god/goddess. I am genuinely scared that my name would be banned tomorrow,' Unnikrishnan said, adding that the Malayalam film industry will strongly protest this. ThePrint reached out to Union Minister and BJP MP Suresh Gopi, but he was unavailable for comment. However, soon after the issue came to light, another Malayalam director M.B. Padmakumar said that he had faced the same issue last month. Padmakumar said he was forced to change the character of the female lead's name from Janaki to Jayanthi, as the CBFC raised objections because the character was in a relationship with a Christian character named Abraham. 'I gave my movie titled 'Token Number' to the censor board on 22 May. The censor board asked me to change the name of Abraham to a Hindu name, but it was difficult to change the name because of his background. So, I decided to change the name Janaki,' Padmakumar said. The actor-director also alleged that he got threatening calls from many non-cinema organisations when he approached them for help. Padmakumar said the film finally got the CBFC nod later on 7 June after he changed the name to Jayanthi. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: 'Bharat Mata' portrait pits LDF against Kerala Governor, again. 'Turning Raj Bhavan into party office'
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Fire and Rescue: K Padmakumar hands over responsibilities to Manoj Abraham
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Retiring from service on Wednesday, K Padmakumar, Director General of Fire and Rescue Services, is bringing to a close a long and eventful career in public service. As he steps down, Padmakumar said multiple goals have been briefed to his successor, Manoj Abraham, who has been promoted to the post following his retirement. Among the most important tasks ahead, Padmakumar pointed to the need for efficient financial utilisation. 'There is an organisational grant of Rs 162 crore. It is crucial that the utilisation of this is now expedited. Another major focus will be the effective utilisation of funds allocated under the Wayanad development package,' said Padmakumar. He also spoke about the need to replace ageing fire and rescue vehicles. 'Nearly 150 vehicles have crossed the 15-year mark. Proposals for their replacement have already been submitted. It is important to act on them without delay,' added Padmakumar. During his tenure, the department witnessed notable technological and operational upgrades. These included the induction of robotic fire engines capable of navigating hazardous zones without risking human lives, and the deployment of high-rise aerial ladder platforms to tackle fires in multi-storey buildings. Padmakumar oversaw the recruitment of women into the fire and rescue services breaking the longstanding barriers in what was traditionally considered a male-dominated field. Building on this, he also initiated India's first all-women Scuba diving team within the department just three months before his retirement.
New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CPM reconstitutes Pathanamthitta district secretariat; Padmakumar dropped
PATHANAMTHITTA: CPM district secretariat in Pathanamthitta was reconstituted on Monday. Notably, veteran leader A Padmakumar, who had recently voiced public dissatisfaction over his exclusion from the state committee, was left out of the district secretariat. The new panel includes district secretary Raju Abraham, P B Harsh Kumar, R Sanal Kumar, P R Prasad, P J Ajayakumar, T D Baiju, Omallur Sankaran, Komalam Anirudhan, and C Radhakrishnan. The members were selected during a meeting attended by CPM state secretary M V Govindan and central committee members T M Thomas Isaac, C S Sujatha, and Puthalath Dineshan, among others. Former district secretary K P Udayabhanu and senior leader Nirmala Devi, both of whom have crossed the party's age limit for leadership roles, were also dropped from the new panel. A known local leader, Padmakumar, had taken the party by surprise when he took to social media and later to the media to express his dissatisfaction over being sidelined from the state committee. He had left the CPM state conference venue in Kollam without attending the public meeting. Taking to Facebook, Padmakumar wrote 'Deception.... Betrayal..... Insult.... Balance sheet of 52 years..... Lal Salam' (sic) as the caption of his changed profile picture, in which he is seen sitting inside a car, worried. However, he later deleted the caption but retained the picture.
