After weeks of controversy and legal battle over the title, Mayalalam film Janaki V vs State of Kerala has been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The makers have also announced the movie's new release date with the revised title.
CBFC certifies Janaki V vs State of Kerala
Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran's movie which was earlier titled, Janaki vs State of Kerala is now renamed as Janaki V vs State of Kerala. A new new release date of the film is also announced. The courtroom drama, which was earlier scheduled to release on June 27, will now hit theatres on July 17, 2025.
Janaki V vs State of Kerala has received a 'U/A 16+ certificate from the censor board. On Sunday, the official Instagram handle of the film, sharing the new release date of JSK, wrote, "Behind every delay… have a truth worth fighting for." and in the end that truth shall always prevail !!!JANAKAI V v/s STATE OF KERALA U/A 16+ CERTIFICATION WORLD WIDE RELEASE ON JULY 17TH (sic)".
JSK title row
The censor board reportedly objected to ‘Janaki’ as it refers to Hindu goddess Sita. As per the makers, CBFC had asked them to change the name ‘Janaki’. The board reportedly said that God’s name should not be given to a woman who was assaulted. They had earlier demanded 96 cuts along with the change in title.
The film was earlier cleared with a U/A certificate, by the regional office of CBFC in Thiruvananthapuram but when it was forwarded to the Mumbai office, they demanded the change in the title, as per reports.
Cosmos Entertainment, the production house behind JSK filed a petition in Kerala High Court, against the delay in certification, followed by a legal battle.
The affidavit from the censor board stated, "In the subject film, when the lead character, who is named after Goddess Sita/Janaki, is raped, she is then 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."
CBFC had suggested the makers to either rename the film as 'V Janaki' or 'Janaki V', to which makers agreed and finally modified the title.
