KOCHI: A name as old as ancient mythology has ignited a modern-day firestorm in Kerala’s film industry. Janaki vs State of Kerala (JSK), a yet-to-be-released courtroom drama, has triggered furious anger among filmmakers, artists and producers, all rallying against what they call the “arbitrary and choking” decisions of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
On Monday, the who’s who of Mollywood — including FEFKA, KFPA and AMMA members — gathered outside the CBFC office in Thiruvananthapuram, venting frustration over a censorship regime they claim is becoming unpredictable, unreasonable and ruinous for creativity. “This isn’t just about Janaki, this is about artistic survival,” thundered Renji Panicker, head of FEFKA’s Directors’ Union. “What next? Will filmmakers have to name their characters One, Two, and Three because religious names are off-limits? This is a cultural chokehold.”
The immediate trigger? The CBFC’s objection to protagonists called Janaki, a revered name for Ramayana’s Sita, in two films, JSK and Token Number. While mythological names in films are nothing new (think Seeta Aur Geeta or Ram Lakhan), filmmakers are now being asked to rewrite, re-dub, and essentially re-construct their films post-production to appease the board’s new sensibilities.
The Kerala High Court itself was baffled. “If Ram Lakhan and Seeta Aur Geeta didn’t raise eyebrows, why Janaki?” the court asked while hearing a petition filed by JSK’s producer Cosmos Entertainment.
But the damage is done. Director M B Padmakumar was forced to rename his Token Number heroine to avoid a stand-off with censors. “The issue was not just her name, it was her relationship with another character, Abraham,” he said. “We had to fight, but eventually we gave in. And we’re not alone.” Even L2: Empuraan, starring industry giants Mohanlal and Prithviraj, wasn’t spared. After a storm of right-wing outrage post-release, the film was voluntarily re-edited and re-certified, delaying its rollout and denting its momentum.
“It’s now a guessing game,” lamented KFPA vice president G Suresh Kumar. “You finish shooting, editing, spend crores, and then you’re told to change character names to get a certificate? That’s not just censorship. That’s sabotage.”
Veteran film critic G P Ramachandran called for united resistance. “This is an attack on originality. When a film like Empuraan faces such hurdles and the big guns stay silent, it only emboldens the censor board’s overreach. It’s time the industry stood its ground.”
At the heart of the unrest is a creeping unease, an unspoken fear that the CBFC is no longer functioning as a certifying body, but as a moral compass dictated by unseen pressures. “This isn’t about any political party,” said Renji. “It’s about institutions making decisions behind closed doors, enforcing unwritten rules, and silencing expression.” Suresh Kumar warned of broader consequences. “If this goes on, Kerala’s vibrant film industry, known for bold themes and social critiques, could be reduced to bland, risk-free storytelling. That’s not cinema. That’s censorship cinema.”
As cameras roll and scripts are rewritten across Kerala, one thing is clear: This is more than a name game. It’s a battle for the soul of Malayalam cinema — and Janaki has become its unlikely heroine.