‘Now you will direct the directors what name they should use …’: Kerala HC to Censor Board in the title of the film on the line on ‘Janaki’. Bharat News

On Monday, DSGI told the court that the film name Janaki refers to Hindu goddess Sita, and petitioners can use a neutral name for their film. The CBFC also presented that the title of the film violates the guidelines released by the central government, which conforms to Section 5B (2) of the Cinematograph Act, which relates to certifying films.

At this stage, the court asked, “Now you will instruct the directors and artists what names they should use and what stories they should tell. What is wrong with the people? How is it contempt towards a religion? … It is the freedom of artists.”

The court said that 80 percent of the names in India have religious meanings and CBFC cannot determine which names should be given or which story should be told.

Given that the board has no right to interfere in the story of a film, the court directed the CBFC to give a concrete response to how the name Janaki made contempt for racial, religious or other groups.

When the petitioner said that the film is about the fight for a survivor with a rape and the name of Janaki Nayak, the court thought, “Janaki is not a rapist. If a rapist is named as Ram, Krishna, Janaki, I can understand. The heroine is fighting for justice, what is the problem in that name?”

Rajya Sabha MP and Advocate Haris Birn, who appeared for the producers, said the teaser of the film has been certified by CBFC. The teaser was released three months ago and no complaints were related to the title Janki till now, he said.

“Has anyone complained about the name Janaki? Whose feelings have been hurt? Has anyone really raised objections?” The judge asked.

Following the first demand of the CBFC Regional Office to change the title of the film, the matter was taken by the Board’s Amendment Committee, which was also asked for a change in the name. On Friday, hearing the petition, the court directed the CBFC that it had worked on filmmakers, Cosmos Entertainments by CBFC.

The matter will be taken again on Wednesday. Praveen Narayanan-directed film, in which Anupama Parmeswaran also acts in the lead role, allegedly revolves around the legal battle of a woman who is an attack called Janaki against the state.