Kerala High Court rejects plea against release of film inspired by Venjaramoodu mass murder

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea to restrain the release and promotion of a Malayalam film named 'Kaalam Paranja Katha', allegedly inspired by the Venjaramoodu mass murder case [Abdal Rahim H v Union of India and ors].

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas gave the verdict on a plea filed by the father of Afan, who is the sole accused in the murder case.

The father had approached the Court raising concerns that the film may affect Afan's right to a fair trial.

During earlier hearings of the matter, the Court had repeatedly questioned whether a film could interfere with judicial proceedings and had orally observed that cinema was a creative medium while trials are decided by legally trained judges.

The judge had also expressed doubts over claims that the movie could influence witness or prejudice the trial and asked how the right to a fair trial would be affected by a cinematic portrayal.

The Court today dismissed the plea.

The Venjaramoodu mass murder case concerns an incident from February 2025, in which five family members were killed by the sole accused, Afan.

It is alleged that Afan murdered his paternal grandmother, younger brother, uncle, aunt and girlfriend, apart from attempting to kill his mother. The criminal trial in this case is pending before a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram.

A Malayalam film titled Kaalam Paranja Katha was reported to have been inspired by this case and was initially scheduled for a February 6 release.

The plea before the Kerala High Court, however, raised concerns that this film could affect Affan's right to a fair trial in this case. In the plea, Affan's father argued that the movie's release could lead to a media trial against his son.

In its response, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) maintained that the film would not affect the fairness of the trial in the Venjaramoodu mass murder case. In this regard, the film certification body highlighted differences between the movie's storyline and the prosecution's case. It also informed the Court that the film was granted a U/A 16+ certificate after careful examination and a reference to a Revising Committee.

The petitioner was represented by advocates Sajju V and Ajmal A.

The movie's director was represented by advocate Abraham Samson.