Row over Suresh Gopi-starrer ‘Janaki vs State of Kerala’ deepens as another CBFC panel seeks title change

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“The committee wanted to change the name Janaki,” he said in a social media post. Later, he said: “They (CBFC) have asked us to rename the main protagonist to something else”.

The row pertains to the name Janaki – another name for Hindu Goddess Sita — in the title. The courtroom drama follows Janaki, a woman who seeks justice after a traumatic event.

While actor Anupama Parameswaran plays Janaki, actor-politician Suresh Gopi plays a senior advocate representing her in court.

Before the revising committee, CBFC’s examining committee too had asked for the name of the protagonist – as well as the movie title – to be changed. While CBFC’s examining committee is responsible for reviewing films and assigning them the appropriate certification for public exhibition, the revising committee reviews films in cases where the applicant is unsatisfied with recommendations or suggested changes.

The movie was slated to be released on June 27. With the release of the movie in limbo, its producers Cosmos Entertainment have moved the Kerala High Court, which has directed the CBFC to inform it of the revising committee’s decision on its next hearing on June 27.

Meanwhile, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala had criticised the CBFC for its stand, saying it would create a crisis in the industry.