JSK: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala

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JSK: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala
Janaki vs State of Kerala.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPravin Narayanan
Written byPravin Narayanan
Produced byJ. Phanindra Kumar
Starring Suresh Gopi
Anupama Parameswaran
Shruthi Ramachandran
Madhav Suresh
Cinematography Renadive
Edited bySamjith Mohammed
Music byScore:
Ghibran
Songs:
Gireesh Narayanan
Production
company
Cosmos Entertainments
Distributed byDream Big Films
Release date
  • 17 July 2025 (2025-07-17)
Running time
154 minutes [1]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

JSK: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala is a 2025 Indian Malayalam-language courtroom legal thriller film written and directed by Pravin Narayanan. It stars Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran. [2] [3] It is produced by J. Phanindra Kumar under the banner of Cosmos Entertainments, with Sethuraman Nair Kankol as co-producer. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

The film was released on 17 July 2025. [7]

Plot

Janaki Vidhyadharan is an IT professional from Bengaluru whose visit to her hometown for a festival turns into a nightmare when she becomes a victim of sexual assault. As she seeks justice, she loses her father and the case takes a complex turn when David Abel Donovan, a sharp and composed lawyer, steps in to defend the accused. Caught in the crossfire between legal arguments and lived trauma, Janaki's fight exposes the deep moral and ethical dilemmas of the Indian judicial system. In a world where the law is supposed to protect, the lines between right and wrong begin to blur leaving us to ask: what really happened to Janaki, and what does justice truly mean?

Cast

Production

The film commenced it's shooting in November 2022. [8] The film is produced by J. Phanindra Kumar under Cosmos Entertainments, with Sethuraman Nair Kankol as co-producer. [9] The cinematography is handled by Renadive, editing by Samjith Mohammed, and music composed by Gireesh Narayanan. [10] The film's background score were composed by Ghibran. The film wrapped the shooting on 9 November 2023. [11]

Release

The first look poster was released on 6 June 2024. [12] The release date was announced on 26 January 2025. [13] [14] A motion poster for the film was released on 28 May 2025, confirming the theatrical release date as 20 June 2025. [15] [16] However it was initially postponed by one week and confirmed the release date as 27 June 2025. [17] But it was delayed by the intervention of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), citing an objection to the use of the name Janaki for the main character and in the film's title. The CBFC demanded that the name be changed, leading to a delay in the certification process and subsequently postponing the film's release again. [18] After the production's legal battle against CBFC, the film is finally released on 17 July 2025. Zee5 acquired the digital rights to the film and was released on 15 August 2025. [19] [20] [21]

Reception

Janaki V vs State of Kerala received mixed reviews, with praise for its survivor-centric theme, strong performances of leads and courtroom drama, but criticism for overwhelming star presence that detracts from the story, performances of supporting cast along with an inconsistent, uneven narrative.

In May 2025, the film became the subject of a legal dispute when the Madras High Court issued an interim injunction restraining its release. The stay order was granted after a petition was filed by a Chennai-based production house, alleging non-payment of dues amounting to ₹1.3 crore by the producers of the film. The petitioner claimed that despite providing financial support during the film's production, the repayment was defaulted. [31]

The case drew attention due to the film's anticipated release and the involvement of popular actor Suresh Gopi in the lead role. As of late May 2025, the court's final decision on whether the release would proceed was pending. [32]

Censorship controversy and CBFC objection

Before its release, the film was involved in a certification dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). According to reports, the CBFC initially declined to certify the film, citing concerns over the use of the name Janaki for the lead character, which they reportedly considered sensitive due to its association with the Hindu goddess Sita. The filmmakers, however, stated that no formal written explanation was provided and that they were verbally asked to change both the character's name and the film's title. [33]

The reported objection drew responses from various film industry organizations and political groups. B. Unnikrishnan, General Secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), criticized the demand, describing it as unusual and expressing concern about its implications for creative expression. [34] The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) also issued a statement opposing the reported stance of the CBFC and called for respect for artistic freedom. [35] Several media commentators and legal professionals also questioned the absence of a documented rationale from the CBFC and raised broader concerns about freedom of expression in cinema.

Due to the dispute, the film's release, originally scheduled for 27 June 2025, was postponed. The filmmakers publicly stated that they did not intend to comply with the requested changes and were considering legal action against the CBFC's decision. [36]

The Kerala High Court intervened in the matter and sought clarification from the CBFC. During the proceedings, the Court questioned whether the Board had the authority to object to character names and storylines. The Court referenced previous films such as Seeta Aur Geeta and Ram Lakhan to highlight what it viewed as inconsistent application of guidelines. Justice N. Nagaresh directed the CBFC to submit a written affidavit explaining how the use of the name "Janaki" conflicted with certification rules. The affidavit was to be submitted by 2 July 2025, the date of the next scheduled hearing. [37]

On 30 June 2025, various Malayalam film industry organizations, including FEFKA, AMMA, and the Kerala Film Producers Association, held a protest at CBFC's regional office in Thiruvananthapuram. Participants symbolically discarded scissors into a bin and carried placards advocating for creative freedom and protesting against censorship. [38]

FEFKA's General Secretary B. Unnikrishnan reiterated concerns regarding alleged interference in naming decisions. [39] Director Kamal likened the situation to earlier instances of censorship in India's political history and emphasized the need to safeguard artistic liberties. [40] Kerala's Minister for Cultural Affairs, Saji Cherian, also commented on the issue, calling CBFC's reported objection "unacceptable" and raising concerns about its potential impact on smaller filmmakers. [41]

On 2 July 2025, the Kerala High Court directed that the film be screened for judicial review on 5 July 2025. The next hearing was scheduled for 9 July 2025. [42]

During the 9 July 2025 hearing, a settlement was reached between the film's producers and the CBFC. Initially, the CBFC had proposed 96 edits and changes to the film's title and character name. Following discussions facilitated by the Court, the CBFC agreed to reduce the required changes to two: muting the name "Janaki" in two courtroom scenes and modifying the film's title to reflect the protagonist's full name.

The original title Janaki v/s State of Kerala was revised to Janaki V v/s State of Kerala and it was adopted to represent the character's full name, Janaki Vidhyadharan. While the filmmakers initially expressed concern over the impact of these changes, they agreed to the modifications. The High Court directed the producers, Cosmos Entertainments, to submit the updated version of the film and instructed the CBFC to issue the certification within three days. [43]

References

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