Filmmaker Pravin Narayanan's directorial courtroom drama, Janaki vs State of Kerala’s release has been stalled after the film’s title sparked controversy. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has also refused to grant the film a final screening certificate.
However, the major organisations from the Malayalam film industry have now decided to gather outside the regional office of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Thiruvananthapuram this Monday, June 30, to protest the board’s decision.
Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), the Kerala Film Producers’ Association, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) and the Directors’ Union will head the protest. The protest is in response to the CBFC Revising Committee's objection to the title and the main character's name in the film JSK – Janaki vs State of Kerala.
However, filmmaker Pravin Narayanan has previously taken to his Facebook to criticise the board’s decision and slammed the Revising Committee for demanding the removal of Janaki from the title. He also revealed in his post that the change to the survivor character’s name was requested because Janaki is traditionally associated with the Hindu goddess Sita.
He called out the CBFC board and wrote on Facebook, “Taliban is not ruling this place to say not to give names of gods to movies. If the names of gods are removed, then what names do Hindus have? It is an extremely anti-democratic, fascist stand to say that the name of God should not be used by a man in the Hindu faith, which has thirty-three crore gods.”
The filmmaker added, “It could have been understood if the aim of insulting someone by using the name Janaki is in the story or the script.”
He defended the plot of the film and claimed, “I strongly believe that this movie is neither a myth nor a historical story, and it is a movie based on the real events that happened in the life of a girl, which tells the struggle of survival of a woman who falls victim, and that the review committee who watches the movie will understand.”
He expressed gratitude towards director B. Unnikrishnan and continued, “Since the moment this issue came up, many thanks in the language of love to Unnikrishnan B sir, FEFKA Directors Union, Producers Association, media friends who stand by and give courage and intervene sincerely in everything.”
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The film was originally scheduled to hit the theatres on June 27 and has secured a U/A 13+ rating with no cuts mandated. JSK stars Union Minister and actor Suresh Gopi opposite Anupama Parameswaran in the pivotal roles.
Janaki vs State of Kerala is said to revolve around Janaki, who becomes the victim of an inhuman activity, her unexpected encounter with Adv. David Abel Donovan and how she fights for her justice, challenging the court and the judiciary system of India.
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