Tomorrow'sshowing of a film starring Suresh Gopi will occur under a different title, as the Kerala High Court has recently concluded a legal plea regarding the delay in certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
In a recent legal dispute, M/s Cosmos Entertainments, the producers of the film "Janaki V vs State of Kerala" starring Suresh Gopi, faced off against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) over the use of the name "Janaki" for the lead character and the film’s title.
The CBFC initially refused certification, citing that "Janaki" is another name for the Hindu goddess Sita, and objected to the portrayal of Janaki as a rape survivor facing humiliating courtroom cross-examination. The board argued that this depiction raised serious concerns about public order and could be seen as contemptuous or offensive to religious sentiments, invoking Guideline 2(12) of the certification rules that prohibit such content.
The CBFC initially proposed up to 96 cuts to the film, leading M/s Cosmos Entertainments to approach the Kerala High Court seeking a timely certification. A compromise was reached, with the film title being changed from "Janaki vs State of Kerala" to "Janaki V vs State of Kerala", adding the initial "V" to the name. The word "Janaki" was also muted in two specific scenes, including during a courtroom cross-examination. These modifications were accepted by the producers, and the CBFC then issued the censor certificate on July 11, 2025.
The Kerala High Court bench of Justice N Nagaresh closed the producers’ petition after the CBFC certification was granted but allowed the filmmakers to continue using promotional material bearing the old title "Janaki vs State of Kerala". The court clarified that this would not expose the producers to any legal claims, thereby preventing potential consumer litigation over the change in title at release.
The dispute highlighted tensions between artistic freedom and religious sensitivity in film certification in India, with the court emphasizing the right of a rape survivor character to bear the name "Janaki" but balancing it with modifications to address CBFC’s concerns. The judge also clarified that the use of earlier teasers or promotional materials with the earlier film title will not make the film's producers liable for any legal action.
The film "Janaki V vs. State of Kerala" tells the story of a rape survivor named 'Janaki' and is scheduled for release on July 17. The CBFC agreed to certify the film if the film-character's full name 'Janaki V' or 'V Janaki' was included in the title and if the name 'Janaki' was muted during a courtroom scene. In its affidavit, the CBFC stated that its concerns were not just about the use of a religious name, but also the portrayal of the character, as the rape survivor is depicted as someone enduring multiple traumatic events, including being subjected to sexually explicit and demeaning questions in a courtroom setting.
The CBFC's dispute with M/s Cosmos Entertainments over the movie "Janaki V vs State of Kerala" involved objections to the portrayal of Janaki as a rape survivor and the depiction of humiliating courtroom cross-examination, raising concerns about public order and potential offensiveness to religious sentiments. The entertainment industry encountered a balance between artistic freedom and religious sensitivity during the film's certification process in India.
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