In a democratic nation where freedom of speaking and artistic expression is considered a fundamental right, a string of recent events related to the Central Film Certification Board (CBFC) has shaken the new debate around censorship and creative freedom in Indian cinema. Two most prominent cases – Janaki V/S State Kerala and Sitare land -higlite A related trend: The creators are being forced to make political and religiously inspired changes, often with very little or any formal communication, simply to clean their films.
A name that gave rise to controversy
Malayalam Courtroom Drama Janaki V/S State of Kerala denied Anupama Parameswaran and Union Minister Suresh Gopi, despite release on 27 June, denied sensor clearance. Problem? Nayak’s name- Janaki. According to CBFC, the name, which is another widely accepted form of Goddess Sita, was considered inappropriate for a female character depicted as an attack victim.This sudden decision, any formal written notice or lack of show-causes, immediately criticized. Fefka (Film Employees Federation of Kerala) General Secretary B Annik Rrishnan asked during his conversation with the Times of India. “Many Hindu names are obtained from the gods – will they all face censorship?” Unnikrishnan, given that his own telefilm with a character named Janaki had previously passed CBFC approval.This is not the first time that such censorship has happened on character names. Director MB Padmakumar faced the same pushback on a character called Janaki in his film token number. In that case, CBFC suggested to replace the name with “Jayati” or “Krishnan” – the names considered in the names were the lack of the divine association and only when the name was changed, Jayanti was a film approved for screening.
Micro-management of creative options of CBFC
If Janaki V/S states the state of Kerala present a case of religious sensitivity, then the treatment of CBFC’s Sitler land crossing, which acted by Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh, also shows a comprehensive issue creeping in creative decisions.Bollywood Hungama said in its report that the film was finally reviewed by the revised committee led by Vomn Kandre after being unhappy with the cuts suggested by the CBFC examination committee. His suggestions included the following changes
- Change “businesswoman” with gender-plate “businessman”.
- Change “Michael Jackson” with the general word “Lovebirds”.
- Remove a visual element tied to the word “Kamal” (Kamal, interpreted as a reference to the symbol of the BJP party).
- Most particularly, include a quotation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the inauguration disclaimer
These demands raise an uncomfortable question: How long did CBFC’s role expand to determine political messages in fictional narratives? Adding a quotation to a sitting Prime Minister changes it ideologically.Despite these interventions, Sitare Zameen Paar was eventually awarded the U/A13+ certificate, and the film was released on 20 June. But at what cost for artistic autonomy?
Are some narratives being silent?
With the increasing examples of such intervention, one should ask: Is the upcoming movies that ficcate in sensitive mythological or historical subjects also face the same investigation?A case of Bindu is the Ramayana of Nitesh Tiwari, in which Ranbir Kapoor is starred as Goddess Sita as Lord Ram and Siel Pallavi. The story of the Ramayana is naturally complex and is emotionally filled with intensive scenes – the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, his firepiece (testing), and pregnant with Luv and Kush despite his final abandonment by Rama. These episodes are not only central for the plot, but also deeply inherent in Indian cultural memory.Will CBFC now increase objections how CETA tests have been depicted? Will they argue that showing him as a victim reduces his divinity? If using a name like Janaki is already controversial, what is a film that resumes her entire journey, including injustice faced by her?It is not just imaginary – it is a very real concern in today’s political and social climate, where identity, religion and ideology are more than ever.In the words of late Satyajit Ray, “Cinema’s work is not to provide an answer, but to ask the right question.” This is the time when CBFC remembered.
