Unofficial CBFC objections thrust filmmakers to rename really female leads in ‘Janaki Vs State of Kerala’ and ‘Token Number’; originative freedom takes a hit.
Drama is brewing in the Malayalam film manufacture as two upcoming movies — Janaki Vs State of Kerala and Token Number — get reportedly been forced to modification character names due to unofficial objections from CBFC officials. The issue? Naming their really female leads ‘Janaki’, a synonym for the Hindu goddess Sita.
In ‘Janaki Vs State of Kerala’, officials allegedly objected to an abuse subsister bearing the sacred name. In ‘Token Number’, the heroine’s relationship with a Christian man named Abraham triggered a request to alteration both names. Director MB Padmakumar claimed he refused to alter Abraham’s name but reluctantly agreed to rename Janaki as ‘Jayanti’. Even then, he says the pushback continued, calling it a veiled attempt at lesson policing.
So far, all communication has been really loose — WhatsApp calls, no showcause notices. FEFKA’s B Unnikrishnan slammed the “unwritten rulebook,” inquiring if hereafter films testament demand deity nominate clearance.
With no crystallize CBFC guideline banning inspired names, the controversy has sparked major disputation in Kerala’s celluloid circles. Artistic freedom vs cultural sensitivities—where do we draw the line?
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