CBFC Blocks Release Of Suresh Gopi's Janaki vs State Of Kerala, Demands Title Change Over Use Of Goddess Sita's Name For Assault Survivor

The release of Malayalam film JSK: Janaki vs State of Kerala, starring Union Minister and actor Suresh Gopi, has hit an unexpected roadblock after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) denied it screening permission, allegedly due to the name of the title character.

Directed by Pravin Narayanan, the film features Suresh Gopi in the lead role. It revolves around the legal battle of an assaulted woman named Janaki against the state. According to media reports, the Censor Board has objected to the character name 'Janaki', citing that it is an alternative name of Goddess Sita and cannot be associated with a character who suffers assault in the film.

On June 21, Narayanan confirmed the development in a Facebook post and stated that the movie would not be released on its scheduled date of June 27.

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The decision has sparked criticism from several quarters of the Malayalam film industry and beyond. Kerala's General Education Minister V Sivankutty indirectly addressed the issue with a sarcastic Facebook post on the same day, questioning, "Censor Board or senseless Board?"

Meanwhile, according to PTI, noted filmmaker and general secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), B Unnikrishnan, told reporters in Kochi on Sunday (June 22) that the CBFC had clearly communicated to the makers that the name 'Janaki' could not be used in the title or for the lead character.

"They have not received any written information in this regard. A show-cause notice is yet to be received. They expect to get it by Monday. The story is about the legal fight carried out by an assaulted woman against the state. It is said (by the Board) that Goddess Sita's name cannot be given to the woman character who suffered assault," he said.

Terming the Censor Board's stance as 'strange,' he questioned, "Where is the country heading? In this circumstance, it would be tough to choose a name for characters belonging to the Hindu religion, as the majority of them would be epithets of Gods or Goddesses," he reportedly stated.

The film also stars Anupama Parameswaran, Shruthi Ramachandran, Dileep, Divya Pillai and others. Suresh Gopi will be seen as Advocate David Abel Donovan in the upcoming film.