Kerala HC to watch Malayalam movie Haal amid censorship dispute, and beef biryani scene

CBFC objects to 15 scenes in Malayalam film Haal

The Kerala High Court agreed to watch Malayalam movie Haal after the film's makers filed a petition against the Central Board of Film Certifications (CBFC) order to cut out some important scenes and lines.

The court, on Saturday, October 25, will watch parts of the case that are in dispute in person at a screening in Kakkanad, Kerala, before making its decision.

Haal reportedly has scenes that the CBFC has objected to, such as the female lead wearing Muslim religious clothing and eating beef biryani. The filmmakers say that these parts are important to the story and to the movie's social commentary. The CBFC has also requested that the picture of a 'rakhi' be blurred in a number of scenes.

The filmmakers argued in their petition that these cuts would hurt the film's artistic integrity and push back its release even more, causing them to lose a lot of money.

The production, which has already cost about Rs 15 crore, was supposed to release on September 12. The team stressed that Haal's goal is to deal with important social issues without encouraging violence or hostility of any kind.

Shane Nigam plays the main character in the movie, which has been getting a lot of attention for its bold themes. But the ongoing fight with the CBFC has put its release on hold. It is very rare for a court to get involved in a censorship case, but the High Court's decision to watch the movie itself is one of those times.

On October 30, there will be a detailed hearing about Haal's certification and release. The court is expected to give more directions based on what it saw at the screening.