Janaki vs State of Kerala: 'Censor Board attempting to create division in society, Suresh Gopi should clarify his stand'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DYFI has said that the Censor Board's action in blocking the release of 'JSK- Janaki vs State of Kerala' directed by Praveen Narayanan is objectionable and a violation of freedom of expression.

"The Censor Board has blocked the release of 'Janaki vs State of Kerala' based on the demand that the name of the character 'Janaki' in the film be changed from the title and the name of the character from the film. The Censor Board has blocked the release of the film at a time when the film is scheduled to hit theatres as a global release on June 27. The Censor Board has made a blatant encroachment on freedom of expression in the field of art and culture. Union Minister Suresh Gopi, who has acted in this film, should clarify his position on the issue," DYFI said in a statement.

"The film has been denied permission to screen on the grounds that the name Janaki is another name of Sita in mythology. The Sangh Parivar nominees on the Censor Board are trying to create divisions in society by injecting their narrow political interests into even a character's name and creating non-existent issues. There should be a strong protest against the Censor Board's approach of declaring a state of emergency on freedom of expression," the DYFI state secretariat said in a statement.