Kerala HC Questions CBFC Over Janaki vs State of Kerala Name Row

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JULY 01,2025

The Kerala High Court has firmly pushed back against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), questioning its objection to the title of the Suresh Gopi-starrer, 'JSK - Janaki v/s State of Kerala'. The court criticised the board's stance, asserting that creative freedom allows filmmakers to choose names and narratives without undue interference.

Court Questions CBFC's Logic

Justice N. Nagaresh, presiding over the case, challenged the CBFC's demand to change the protagonist's name, Janaki, which is another name for the Hindu goddess Sita. The court noted that the character is a victim of sexual assault fighting for her rights.

Justice Nagaresh orally observed, 'She is not a rapist. If a rapist is named as Rama, Krishna, Janaki, then I can understand. At least we can appreciate that you should not name that character with God's name. Here, she is a heroine of the film, fighting for the cause of justice.'

The court pointed out the hypocrisy in the CBFC's objection, citing past films with divine names like 'Seeta Aur Geeta' and 'Ram Lakhan' that faced no such issues.

The CBFC, represented by the Deputy Solicitor General of India, argued that the film's title violates Guidelines 2(xii) and 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which pertain to public order and decency. However, the court found this argument weak.

"80#37 of names have religious connotations, like Ahammed, Anthony, Kesavan, Krishnan...you (CBFC) cannot dictate the directors and artists which name should be given or which story should be told. That is the freedom of artist," the Court remarked. It emphasised that the board has no authority to interfere with a film's story unless there is a convincing reason to believe it is contemptuous to a religious group.

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The Standoff Continues

The film's producer, Cosmos Entertainment, filed a petition after the CBFC delayed its certification, stalling its planned June 27 release. They argued that the teaser, featuring the title prominently, was cleared by the board three months ago without any objections.

Despite the film being approved by the CBFC's Screening Committee, the Chairman referred it to the Revising Committee, which insisted on the name change. The court has now directed the CBFC to submit a detailed affidavit explaining its reasoning by July 2. The case highlights the ongoing friction between artistic expression and censorship in India.

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