Haal Movie: Kerala High Court Seeks Centre's Stand On Producer's Plea Against Cuts To Shane-Nigam Starrer

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 9) gave time to the central government counsel to get instructions in a plea preferred by the producer and director of Shane Nigam-starrer Malayalam movie 'Haal' challenging the decision of the censor board that suggested certain modifications in the film.

According to the plea, after the movie was viewed by the censor board on 10.09.2025, no communication regarding certification was made by the board. Later, on checking the status through portal, it was seen that the film was forwarded to the Revising Committee. It is stated that this was done without assigning any reasons in writing.

The petitioners had approached the High Court earlier through WP(C) No. 35526/2025 for speedy consideration of the matter but during the pendency of the matter, the petitioner's application was disposed of and a decision (Exhibit P6) was made. Exhibit P6 decision is being challenged before the Court in the present petition to be illegal, arbitrary, against the law and made without proper reasoning.

In Exhibit P6, six modifications are suggested by the board, which include deletion of "scene of eating beef biriyani" and "sequence in song where heroine uses Muslim religious attire to hide her identity", to "blur the name of institution Holy Angels College of Nursing", etc.

The petitioners have prayed for setting aside the decision of the board and for a direction to reconsider their application for censor certification at the earliest. They have also made a prayer that an advocate commissioner may be appointed by the Court to watch the present movie and report its content.

As per the plea, though the movie was planned to be released on September 12 under the impression that the censorship procedure would be completed on 10th but, it was later postponed to September 19 but even on that date, the procedure was not finalised.

The petitioners have hinted that the delay might have been caused due to the near release date of another movie starring Shane Nigam. In the plea they have stated, "On 26th of September there was another upcoming release of a new movie of the very same Hero Actor. It is doubtful that it is under their influence the censorship was postponed."

They have contended in the plea that though the movie does not contain any depiction of violence or cruelty, the board, upon the recommendation of the Revising Committee, has granted restricted exhibition of the movie under "A category" with modifications.

In the petition, the petitioners have made a suggestion that instead of censoring being done at the final stage after the production of the movie, there ought to be two stages.

The two stages, according to the petitioners ought to be: "One at the “Script Stage” and the other after “Completing the entire movie works”. The scripts made has to be censored at first. If approval is granted, the movies must be made in strict compliance to such “Censored scripts”. The final works must be compared with the “Censored Scripts”. If the final work is in conformity with the approved script, the censor certificates has to be issued. This reduces heavy tensions and difficulties to the film makers."

Therefore, there is an additional prayer in the petition to direct the respondents to frame fresh guidelines for considering censorship application including script censoring also.

When the matter came up for consideration today, Justice N. Nagaresh asked the central government counsel to take instructions in the matter. 

The petitioners submitted that they preferred a statutory appeal is provided under Section 5C of the Indian Cinematograph Act, 1952. However, the Registry had informed that there is no nomenclature or provision for appeal. The Court then asked the Registrar General to submit a report in this regard.

The case is posted on October 14 (Tuesday).

The petition is moved by Advocates Saneeje S. and John Vithayathil.

Case No: WP(C) No. 37251/2025

Case Title: Juby Thomas and Anr. v. Union of India and Ors. 

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