Kochi: The Kerala High Court has cleared the way for the release of Union Minister of State for Tourism and BJP leader Suresh Gopi’s film Janaki. V vs State of Kerala, bringing an end to weeks of legal uncertainty.
The court noted that the petitioner’s primary concerns had been addressed, allowing the film to be released on Thursday.
The film, originally titled Janaki vs State of Kerala, faced objections from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which raised concerns over the use of the name "Janaki" under Section 5B(2) of the Cinematograph Act. This led to a legal battle in the Kerala High Court that attracted public attention.
During hearings, the film’s producers initially resisted altering the title. However, in a July 9 hearing, they agreed to a compromise, changing the title to Janaki. V vs State of Kerala. The production team’s counsel, Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran, said the decision was the result of mutual understanding between both parties.
The film had also faced demands for 96 cuts by the CBFC, but following discussions, this was reduced to just two minor edits, with two dialogues muted. The revised version was resubmitted and received certification from the CBFC on July 12, clearing the final hurdle for release. The film was originally scheduled to release on June 27.
During a hearing on July 2, Justice N. Nagaresh had questioned the CBFC’s objections to the name "Janaki", stating: “She is not a rapist. If a rapist were named Rama, Krishna, or Janaki, then I could understand the concern. But here, she is the heroine, a survivor seeking justice.”
With the case now closed and the film set to hit theatres, all eyes are on its box office performance, especially after the significant publicity generated by the controversy.