Janaki vs State of Kerala, starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran, was recently watched by the Kerala High Court, followed by a hearing on Wednesday, July 9. During the hearing, the makers of JSK agreed to make the two cuts recommended by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC). The board, which had earlier demanded 96 cuts and changes, has now suggested only two cuts, and has agreed to certify the film.
Last week, Justice Nagaresh had watched Janaki vs State of Kerala in a special screening.
As per a report in LiveLaw, CBFC's counsel, Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, told the Kerala High Court that only two modifications are needed: first, the title should be "Janavi V" instead of "Janaki" and the second is the removal of the reference to her name in the scene showing her cross-examination in the court.
As per a report in India Today, Advocate Haris Beeran informed the Kerala High Court that the makers have agreed to modify the subtitle of the film, as suggested by the censor board. They have also agreed to mute the name from two scenes, where the rape survivor is being "aggressively" cross-examined by a lawyer.
The court ordered the makers to submit a revised version of Janaki vs State of Kerala to the censor board after making the two cuts. The board will then grant a certificate to the film within three days of the submission. "The petitioner is directed to submit the revised/modified version at the earliest. There will be a further direction to the CBFC to issue the censor certificate within a further period of three days. Post after 1 week," the court order said.
"In the subject film, when the lead character, who is named after Goddess Sita/Janaki, is raped, she is then aided by a man belonging to one particular religious community and is cross-examined and asked harrowing questions by a person belonging to another religious community. This religious dichotomy in the treatment of a character bearing Goddess Sita's sacred name has the potential to inflame communal tensions and create divisive narratives between religious groups", the affidavit from the censor board stated.
