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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Monday, 07 July 2025 9.42 PM IST

'Janaki' on screen before Justice Nagaresh; censor issue to be heard on 9th

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KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has for the first time seen a film in person to deliver its verdict in the legal battle over the name of the film.

Justice N. Nagaresh was the judge who decided to legally 'review' the film 'Janaki V/S State of Kerala (JSK)'. The action is part of the case related to the denial of a censor certificate to the film due to the name 'Janaki'. The special screening was held at Colour Planet Studios in Kakkanad's Padamugal Pappalli Satellite Township. The hearing will be held on Wednesday.

Justice Nagaresh reached the studio at 9.50 am yesterday. The screening started within minutes. Three High Court employees, advocates of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Adv S Biju and Adv Alka Warrier, and Anand B Menon, advocate of the petitioner producers Cosmos Entertainments, also watched the film. The censor board's lawyer was not present. A screening will be held for them later.

Production Controller 'Amrita' Mohan and technical staff were there to help. The screening ended at 12.45. After the first half, the judge took a 15-minute break. JSK is a film starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi.

The screening was scheduled at Lal Media Studio in Palarivattom, but was shifted to Color Planet due to technical difficulties. The police, led by the DySP in charge of security for the High Court, reached the studio on Friday and instructed the organizers. Media workers were also not allowed to enter the compound.

Censor Board to give explanation

The producers approached the High Court seeking a censor certificate. The Censor Board raised the issue of giving the name 'Janaki' to the heroine, who is a victim of rape. The Censor Board demanded that 'Janaki' be removed from the title and dialogues. The High Court decided to watch the film and evaluate it after the board's review committee also confirmed this.

While considering the petition, the court inquired whether the Censor Board was interfering with the artist's freedom of expression, and observed that the demand to change the name was prima facie not viable. The Censor Board will submit a detailed affidavit on Wednesday.

TAGS: JANAKI
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