Janaki vs State of Kerala makers agree to Board’s two recommended cuts
Follow TNM’s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.The makers of Janaki vs State of Kerala told the Kerala High Court on Tuesday, July 9, that they are willing to implement the two cuts suggested by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The board, which had initially called for 96 cuts and changes, later made significant revisions to its stance and agreed to clear the film with just two minor modifications.The film, which stars actor and BJP MP Suresh Gopi, had faced objections over naming the lead character ‘Janaki’ – another name for Hindu goddess Sita – in a storyline involving a woman who faces sexual violence.Appearing for the filmmakers, advocate Haris Beeran told the court that his clients were willing to modify the film’s subtitle, as proposed by the CBFC. The court directed the filmmakers to submit a revised version of the film to the CBFC after incorporating the two changes. Once submitted, the board has been asked to issue a censor certificate within three days. “The petitioner is directed to submit the revised/modified version at the earliest. There will be a further direction to the CBFC to issue the censor certificate within a further period of three days,” the court order stated.The CBFC had earlier demanded 96 cuts, which the filmmakers opposed. However, during the hearing, the board adopted a more conciliatory position. It allowed the film to retain the name ‘Janaki’, provided it is modified to either Janaki V vs State of Kerala or V Janaki vs State of Kerala, to reflect the full name of the character, Janaki Vidhyadharan.Apart from this, the CBFC also recommended muting the character’s name during a cross-examination scene. The board, in its affidavit, expressed concern that the scene could stoke communal tensions. “In the subject film, when the lead character, who is named after goddess Sita/Janaki, is raped, she is then aided by a man belonging to one 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 a character bearing goddess Sita's sacred name has the potential to inflame communal tensions and create divisive narratives between religious groups,” the CBFC said.
Follow TNM’s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
THE makers of Janaki vs State of Kerala told the Kerala High Court on Tuesday, July 9, that they are willing to implement the two cuts suggested by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The board, which had initially called for 96 cuts and changes, later made significant revisions to its stance and agreed to clear the film with just two minor modifications.
The film, which stars actor and BJP MP Suresh Gopi, had faced objections over naming the lead character ‘Janaki’ – another name for the Hindu goddess Sita – in a storyline involving a woman who faces sexual violence.
Appearing for the filmmakers, advocate Haris Beeran told the court that his clients were willing to modify the film’s subtitle, as proposed by the CBFC.
The court directed the filmmakers to submit a revised version of the film to the CBFC after incorporating the two changes. Once submitted, the board has been asked to issue a censor certificate within three days.
“The petitioner is directed to submit the revised/modified version at the earliest. There will be a further direction to the CBFC to issue the censor certificate within a further period of three days,” the court order stated.
The CBFC had earlier demanded 96 cuts, which the filmmakers opposed. However, during the hearing, the board adopted a more conciliatory position. It allowed the film to retain the name ‘Janaki’, provided it is modified to either Janaki V vs State of Kerala or V Janaki vs State of Kerala, to reflect the full name of the character, Janaki Vidhyadharan.
Apart from this, the CBFC also recommended muting the character’s name during a cross-examination scene.
The board, in its affidavit, expressed concern that the scene could stoke communal tensions.
“In the subject film, when the lead character, who is named after goddess Sita/Janaki, is raped, she is then aided by a man belonging to one 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 a character bearing goddess Sita's sacred name has the potential to inflame communal tensions and create divisive narratives between religious groups,” the CBFC said.
