'Maranamass' banned in Saudi for casting LGBTQIA+ actor
Maranamass, a Malayalam dark comedy starring Basil Joseph, has been banned from release in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be censored in Kuwait, on account of the inclusion of a queer person in the cast. The production has been informed about the ban and the need for censorship ahead of the film's release on Thursday, April 10. The film is the directorial debut of Sivaprasad and produced by actor Tovino Thomas, Rapheal Pozholiparambil, Tingston Thomas and Thanzeer Salam. It is understood that one of the characters played by a transgender person has brought on the ban and demand for censorship. "We did not look at the gender of the actors before casting them. On the other hand, we also wanted to normalise LGBTQIA+ in the society," Sivaprasad told TNM. Maranamass is part of the Vishu releases on April 10, along with other anticipated films such as Mammootty's Bazooka and Khalid Rahman-directed Alappuzha Gymkhana, featuring Naslen. Along with Basil, the cast of Maranamass includes actors Rajesh Madhavan, Suresh Krishna, Siju Sunny, Anishma Anilkumar and others. Siju Sunny, known for his roles in Romancham and Vaazha, has written the story and co-written the script of the film along with Sivaprasad. The film revolves around a serial killer terrorising the city, and the story unfolds as the killer follows his next target. Earlier this year, Vineeth Sreenivasan's film Oru Jaathi Jaathakam was also banned in most of the Gulf countries for its LGBTQIA+ references. The film’s portrayal of the community was problematic, but the ban came for the allusion to homosexuality and not for how it was depicted. Oru Jaathi Jaathakam: Vineeth Sreenivasan starrer has shallow characters, misplaced humour
MARANAMASS, a Malayalam dark comedy starring Basil Joseph, has been banned from release in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be censored in Kuwait on account of the inclusion of a queer person in the cast.
The production has been informed about the ban and the need for censorship ahead of the film's release on Thursday, April 10. The film is the directorial debut of Sivaprasad and produced by actor Tovino Thomas, Rapheal Pozholiparambil, Tingston Thomas and Thanzeer Salam.
It is understood that one of the characters played by a transgender person has brought on the ban and demand for censorship.
"We did not look at the gender of the actors before casting them. On the other hand, we also wanted to normalise LGBTQIA+ in society," Sivaprasad told TNM.
Maranamass is part of the Vishu releases on April 10, along with other anticipated films such as Mammootty's Bazooka and Khalid Rahman-directed Alappuzha Gymkhana, featuring Naslen.
Along with Basil, the cast of Maranamass includes actors Rajesh Madhavan, Suresh Krishna, Siju Sunny, Anishma Anilkumar and others.
Siju Sunny, known for his roles in Romancham and Vaazha, has written the story and co-written the script of the film along with Sivaprasad. The film revolves around a serial killer terrorising the city, and the story unfolds as the killer follows his next target.
Earlier this year, Vineeth Sreenivasan's film Oru Jaathi Jaathakam was also banned in most of the Gulf countries for its LGBTQIA+ references. The film’s portrayal of the community was problematic, but the ban came for the allusion to homosexuality and not for how it was depicted.
