Kerala High Court Asks CBFC To Certify Suresh Gopi Starrer After Makers Agree To Edit Title & Scenes Referencing 'Janaki'

The legal tussle over Suresh Gopi starrer 'JSK - Janaki v State of Kerala' has come to a close with the film production agreeing before the Kerala High Court to CBFC's suggestions to change and mute the name 'Janaki', which holds religious significance for the Hindu community, from the title and two scenes of the film, respectively.

Cosmos Entertainment has agreed to change the name 'Janaki' in the film's subtitle to 'Janaki V.' or 'V. Janaki'.

The production also agreed to mute the name from two scenes, where the rape survivor named after the Hindu goddess Janaki (another name for Sita), is being "aggressively" cross-examined by a lawyer from another religious community. More on this here.

The Board had earlier today informed the Court that it is willing to certify the film, which was set to hit the theatres on June 27, if the producers change the name 'Janaki' in the title and mute the name in only two scenes, as opposed to 96 cuts suggested earlier.

Though the production had initially registered its objection on the ground that the teaser and promotion materials of the film were already released with the subtitle 'Janaki v State of Kerala'.

"Naming an artistic piece is prerogative and right of the artist," the Court had orally observed during the course of hearing.

However, the Court had asked the production if it would be amenable to make the changes, taking into consideration the financial consequences that would arise if the decision of the CBFC was legally contested. Eventually, the makers agreed.

CBFC counsel Abhinav Chandrachud then submitted that the Board will endeavour to issue the certification within 3 days after the edited version of the movie is submitted to it.

Hearing this, the bench of Justice N. Nagaresh passed an interim order recording the submissions made by the counsel from both sides and directed the film certification body to issue a censor certificate within three days after the changes are made.