A poster of the film
Credit: X/@wizardabhi7
Thiruvananthapuram: The title of Malayalam film Janaki v/s State of Kerala starring Union minister Suresh Gopi will be slightly modified and the name 'Janaki' will be muted at two portions.
The Central Board of Film Ceritification (CBFC), which was insisting on changing the character's name 'Janaki' in the title as well as at 96 parts of the film, toned down their stand when the case was considered by the Kerala High Court on Wednesday.
Subsequently, the production team agreed to change the name by inserting an initial 'V' to 'Janaki' - 'Janaki V v/s State of Kerala'. The name 'Janaki' will be muted at two portions in the film. The HC directed the CBFC to issue certificate for releasing the film within three days after the revised version is submitted.
Film director Pravin Narayanan said that even as any change in a film would make the artists who create it unhappy, he was happy that the issue could be sorted out with minor changes that would not affect the film's content.
Advocate Haris Beeran who appeared for the production team said that the decision to accept the changes was taken by considering the commercial aspects also and the delay in releasing the film would affect it revenue. The CBFC presented flimsy arguments, he added.
The CBFC denied permission to the film citing that using the name 'Janaki' for the title character who suffers sexual assaults could hurt religious sentiments as 'Janaki' is another name of goddess Sita. The HC rejected the CBFC's contentions after Justice N Nagaresh, who considered the case, had watched the film at a special screening.
Despite the CBFC's denial of permission to screen the film triggering strong protest and eminent personalities of the Malayalam film industry staging demonstrations, Suresh Gopi did not make any comment on the issue.
Gopi, who is Union minister of state for petroleum and tourism and maiden BJP MP from Kerala, is playing the role of the assault survivor's lawyer in the court room drama. Anupama Parameswaran is playing the role of 'Janaki'.