Latest news with #VJanaki
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Makers of Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala agree to change title amid clash with censor board
The makers of Janaki vs State of Kerala, starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi, informed the Kerala High Court on Wednesday that they are willing to change the film's title to V Janaki or Janaki V, as suggested by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Janaki vs State of Kerala stars Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran. The statement was made during a hearing on a plea filed by the producers challenging the CBFC's objection to the original title Janaki, which had delayed the film's clearance. What did the CBFC object to The Censor Board had earlier refused to grant certification unless the title was changed, citing potential religious sensitivity, as Janaki is also an alternative name for the Hindu goddess Sita. The filmmakers argued that the name referred to the film's lead character, a rape survivor named Janaki who fights a legal battle against the state. During the hearing on Wednesday, the CBFC informed the court that if the producers made the suggested changes--either renaming the film as V Janaki or Janaki V and muting the name in one of the courtroom scenes--clearance could be granted within three days of resubmission. The filmmakers, while expressing difficulty in rebranding the film so close to release, agreed to the changes after the board maintained its firm position on the title. Justice N Nagaresh adjourned the case to next Wednesday for further consideration. About Janaki vs State of Kerala The film, directed by Pravin Narayanan and also starring Anupama Parameswaran, portrays a woman's legal struggle for justice after assault. The production company, Cosmos Entertainments, approached the court after delays in certification impacted the film's release schedule.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Censor Board objection to Janaki v/s State of Kerala: Protagonist, named after Goddess Sita, questioned by man of another faith
Among the objections the Censor Board had to the Malayalam film Janaki v/s State of Kerala was that the protagonist Janaki, who was fighting for justice in a rape case, was cross-examined in court by a person of another faith, the Board's affidavit filed in the court shows. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had denied the film certification on the grounds that Janaki is also a name associated with Goddess Sita. This had prompted the producers of the Suresh Gopi-starrer to approach the High Court. The counter-affidavit, submitted by CBFC CEO (Mumbai) Rajendra Singh, states, 'In the film, when the lead character, who is named after Goddess Sita/Janaki, is raped, she is aided by a man belonging to a particular religious community and is cross-examined and asked harrowing questions by a person belonging to another religious community. This religious dichotomy in the treatment of the character bearing Goddess Sita's sacred name has the potential to inflame communal tensions and create divisive narratives between religious groups. Given the profound reverence accorded to Goddess Sita across India, these religiously charged subplots would pose a severe threat to public order.' The CBFC stated that a film with a tendency to disrupt public order should not be viewed through the lens of a person indifferent to religious sentiments. Instead, determination must be made from the perspective of 'an average moral man or an ordinary man of common sense and prudence.' Again, referring to a cross-examination of the protagonist, the counter-affidavit said, 'Posing of such provocative questions to a character named after Goddess Sita will have the tendency to disrupt public order and offend religious sentiments… Goddess Sita is shown to be cross-examined by the defence counsel in a rather aggressive manner.' On Wednesday, following a climbdown from both sides – the producers and the Censor Board – the logjam appeared to be resolved. The film's producers told the court that they were ready to change the title to V Janaki v/s State of Kerala and mute the name Janaki in two instances during the movie. The CBFC told the court that it was ready to issue a screening certificate for the film if the producers agreed to change the title from Janaki to V Janaki. The single-judge bench of Justice N Nagaresh, in an interim order, directed the producers to submit a revised version before the CBFC. The Board was asked to issue a certificate within three days. The Bench of Justice Nagaresh, who viewed the movie last Saturday, will consider the matter on July 16. The movie, initially scheduled for release on June 27, has already been delayed, with producers now saying they are tentatively looking at a July 18 release date.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Some give, some take as filmmaker and Censor Board meet midway on Janaki v/s State of Kerala
The producers of Suresh Gopi-starrer JSK: Janaki v/s State of Kerala on Wednesday told the Kerala High Court that they were ready to change the title of the movie to V Janaki v/s State of Kerala. Earlier in the day, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) told the court that it was ready to issue a screening certificate for the Malayalam film if the producers agreed to change the title from Janaki to V Janaki. The board argued that the name of the protagonist is Janaki Vidhyadharan, and V can consequently be included in the title. The board also made a climb down from its earlier stand, saying that it was proposing only two changes in the film instead of the 96 it had demanded earlier. The release of the movie, scheduled for June 27, was delayed after the CBFC demanded changes to the title as well as the name of the protagonist, who is fighting for justice in a rape case. The CBFC denied the certificate on the ground that Janaki is also a name for Goddess Sita. This prompted the producers to approach the High Court. When the matter came up for hearing, the producers informed the court that they are ready to mute the name, Janaki, at two places. The CBFC had suggested muting the name on two occasions related to a court scene in the movie. On Tuesday, both sides were ready for a climbdown. The Bench of Justice V Nagaresh, who viewed the movie last Saturday, will consider the case a week later. In earlier hearings, the court had taken strong exception to the CBFC's stand. 'Now you will dictate to directors and artists which names they should use and which stories they should tell. What is wrong with Janaki? How is it contemptuous of a religion? … That is the freedom of artists,'' the court said. When the petitioner said the film is about the fight of a rape survivor and Janaki is the name of the protagonist, the court wondered, 'Janaki is not a rapist. If a rapist is named as Rama, Krishna, Janaki, then I can understand. The heroine is fighting for justice, what is the problem with that name?''
