Rape survivor with name of Goddess helped by person from another community: 5 objections by CBFC to Janaki movie

The Malayalam movie starring Union Minister and BJP leader Suresh Gopi, 'JSK: Janaki v State of Kerala', might soon hit theatres after its producers agreed to make changes that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanded for censor certification.

Although the Board had earlier proposed 96 cuts to the film, it told the Kerala High Court on Wednesday that it is only seeking two specific changes.

The first is to revise the film's subtitle, 'Janaki v State of Kerala' by altering the name 'Janaki' to 'Janaki V' or 'V Janaki', aligning it with the character's full name, Janaki Vidhyadharan.

The second is to mute the name 'Janaki' during a courtroom cross-examination scene.

The CBFC's objections stemmed from the fact that Janaki is another name for Hindu goddess Sita, the wife of Lord Rama.

This makes the use of her name in this particular movie unsuitable according to the CBFC.

These are five of the many reasons given by the CBFC in an affidavit before the Kerala High Court to justify this stance:

1. The character named Janaki is depicted as a victim of rape and is subsequently shown enduring multiple traumatic circumstances while seeking justice. Allowing films where the lead character is depicted as a rape victim while bearing the name of a revered deity poses serious concerns for public order.

"Such a portrayal fundamentally undermines the dignity and sanctity associated with the revered persona of Goddess Sita, thereby causing grave offense to religious sentiments", the CBFC stated.

2. The film includes scenes where the lead character is being cross examined about her assault. The defence counsel poses aggressive questions such as whether she watches pornographic films; whether she uses some drugs to enhance sexual pleasure, whether she has a boyfriend or if she was pregnant before she was assaulted.

"It is submitted that the posing of such provocative questions to a character named after Goddess Sita will have the tendency to disrupt public order and offend religious settlements", the CBFC contended.

3. After the titular character is raped, she is "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 CBFC's affidavit said.

4. Producers have deliberately appropriated the name of Goddess Janaki/Sita being fully aware that the name holds deep reverence in the collective consciousness of the masses. The producers chose the name with the express intention to capitalise on her religious significance.

"The [producers] could have easily changed the name of both the lead character and the film and ensured that the same does not have any religious connotations. Such an approach would have preserved the film's core messaging and the makers' artistic vision while avoiding offense to religious sentiments and threats to public order," the CBFC stated.

5. Permitting public exhibition of such films would open a pandora's box.

"If this Hon'ble Court were to allow this film today, producers in the future would be emboldened to appropriate sacred religious names for characters in similarly inappropriate and offensive subject matter, thereby systematically undermining religious sentiments across communities and posing a serious threat to public order," the CBFC contended.

After initially fighting the CBFC's stance in Court, the movie's producers agreed to their demands today. The Kerala High Court ordered the CBFC to grant censor certification within 3 days after the changes are made.

While originally scheduled for worldwide release on June 27, cinema goers will now have to wait a little while longer to watch the BJP leader and film actor Suresh Gopi on the silver screen.