<p>“Super censors” are at it again. “Kalimannu”, acclaimed Malayalam film maker Blessy’s new film, has left a group of exhibitors miffed over its content. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Theatre owners have demanded a preview of the film, which has a few scenes featuring its woman protagonist in labour, before it hits the screens. <br /><br />The hype around the film’s content (pregnant actor Shwetha Menon was cast during her pregnancy and her delivery shot for the film) had triggered controversy during its shoot. The latest round of content policing, however, is significant because the film has already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with a U/A certificate.<br /><br />Liberty Basheer, president of the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation (KFEF), said theatre owners could not “risk” screening the potentially controversial film. “The director himself has stated that there are scenes of the heroine in labour. There’s no going back on our stand. We will not screen the film if the makers don’t take us into confidence with a preview,” Basheer told Deccan Herald on Wednesday.<br /><br />The film had run into trouble soon after it was announced and when the state Legislative Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan had raised apprehensions about its content. Later, outfits, including the Mahila Morcha, joined in criticising the film’s crew and cast for “demeaning” women and the idea of motherhood to grab eyeballs. <br /><br />The film was cleared by a CBFC team that comprised only women, leaving the exhibitors’ federation demanding a more “inclusive” model of censorship. Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) general secretary and film maker Unnikrishnan B said the allegations smacked of a regressive, patriarchal line of thought. <br /><br />“The demand for previews of a film already cleared by the censors is ridiculous. We won’t allow groups outside of the government-appointed censor board to dictate terms with film makers, and will back the film all the way to its release,” Unnikrishnan told Deccan Herald. “Kalimannu”, in Blessy’s own words, is an attempt to trace the fascinating bonding between a mother and her unborn child.<br /><br />It stars Biju Menon as the male lead. The film maker has already expressed dissent on criticism over a couple of unreleased scenes while undermining the emotional core of the film. He said he was taking the debate forward with the help of FEFKA.<br /><br /> “I’m yet to receive a formal communication from them (the exhibitors) in this connection. As of now, we are going ahead with plans for a release on August 23,” he said.There are reports on the film industry’s plans to take the fight to the exhibitors over “Kalimannu”.<br /></p>
<p>“Super censors” are at it again. “Kalimannu”, acclaimed Malayalam film maker Blessy’s new film, has left a group of exhibitors miffed over its content. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Theatre owners have demanded a preview of the film, which has a few scenes featuring its woman protagonist in labour, before it hits the screens. <br /><br />The hype around the film’s content (pregnant actor Shwetha Menon was cast during her pregnancy and her delivery shot for the film) had triggered controversy during its shoot. The latest round of content policing, however, is significant because the film has already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with a U/A certificate.<br /><br />Liberty Basheer, president of the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation (KFEF), said theatre owners could not “risk” screening the potentially controversial film. “The director himself has stated that there are scenes of the heroine in labour. There’s no going back on our stand. We will not screen the film if the makers don’t take us into confidence with a preview,” Basheer told Deccan Herald on Wednesday.<br /><br />The film had run into trouble soon after it was announced and when the state Legislative Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan had raised apprehensions about its content. Later, outfits, including the Mahila Morcha, joined in criticising the film’s crew and cast for “demeaning” women and the idea of motherhood to grab eyeballs. <br /><br />The film was cleared by a CBFC team that comprised only women, leaving the exhibitors’ federation demanding a more “inclusive” model of censorship. Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) general secretary and film maker Unnikrishnan B said the allegations smacked of a regressive, patriarchal line of thought. <br /><br />“The demand for previews of a film already cleared by the censors is ridiculous. We won’t allow groups outside of the government-appointed censor board to dictate terms with film makers, and will back the film all the way to its release,” Unnikrishnan told Deccan Herald. “Kalimannu”, in Blessy’s own words, is an attempt to trace the fascinating bonding between a mother and her unborn child.<br /><br />It stars Biju Menon as the male lead. The film maker has already expressed dissent on criticism over a couple of unreleased scenes while undermining the emotional core of the film. He said he was taking the debate forward with the help of FEFKA.<br /><br /> “I’m yet to receive a formal communication from them (the exhibitors) in this connection. As of now, we are going ahead with plans for a release on August 23,” he said.There are reports on the film industry’s plans to take the fight to the exhibitors over “Kalimannu”.<br /></p>
