Basil Joseph's Maranamass faces ban in Kuwait over a queer actor, edited version of film to release in the region

Although, in Kuwait, the film hasn’t witnessed a complete ban.

Basil Joseph starrer upcoming film Maranamass has reportedly run into trouble in the Gulf region. As per a report by The Indian Express, the dark comedy thriller has been banned in Saudi Arabia.

Directed by Sivaprasad and co-produced by actor Tovino Thomas, Maranamass is said to have drawn the attention of Gulf censors, particularly for its casting choices.

According to the report, the reason is the inclusion of a queer actor in the film’s cast—an issue that has apparently led to its prohibition in the country.

Although, in Kuwait, the film hasn’t witnessed a complete ban. The authorities have allowed its release only after scenes featuring the queer actor were deleted to comply with local censorship guidelines.

In a recent interview with The News Minute, director Sivaprasad spoke on the controversy and remarked that the casting choices are not effected by the actor's gender identity. He further said that they did not focus at the gender of the actors while casting them, although he wants to normalize LGBTQIA+ community in the society.

Maranamass's team then issued an official statement surrounding the situation in Kuwait and informed the viewers that the film has gone through a few edits to meet the country's censorship requirements. The makers clarified that certain edits were made specifically for the Kuwaiti release, in compliance with local regulations.

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“To those watching Maranamass in Kuwait, a few scenes from the first and second halves of the film had to be removed due to censorship laws. We hope this won’t detract from your overall enjoyment of the movie,” the statement read.

The developments have sparked buzz around representation and censorship in global cinema, with Maranamass becoming the latest film to face scrutiny over LGBTQ+ inclusivity in conservative countries.