Why Was The Title, 'Janaki Vs State Of Kerala', CHANGED? The Controversy Behind Suresh Gopi's Film

The internet has been buzzing for the past few days surrounding the release of Janaki Vs State of Kerala, a courtroom thriller starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran. After weeks of courtroom drama and ambiguity regarding the release, the highly anticipated film has finally hit the screens today, July 17, 2025. However, the burning question remains: why did the makers find it so challenging to obtain clearance, and why did the certification board object to the film’s original title?

Before initial reviews for the Suresh Gopi and Anupama Starrer pour in, here’s a detailed account of the controversy behind Janaki Vs State of Kerala, and why it was such a challenge to release the film without the suggested changes.

Why was the film’s original title a problem?

The title of the film, Janaki Vs State of Kerala, was the first thing that became a barrier. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) objected to the film’s original title, citing the name Janaki’s association with the Hindu Goddess Sita. The censor board felt it would be inappropriate to use such an honourable name to represent a fictional character who goes through sexual assault and gruelling legal proceedings. 

Although the name Janaki in the film referred to ‘Janaki Vidyadharan’, a survivor fighting for justice, the CBFC raised concerns that it could be interpreted as an indirect reference to the divine figure and offend religious sentiments. As a result, the film, originally scheduled for a release on June 27, 2025, hit a roadblock, and the matter was taken to the Kerala High Court. 

The CBFC originally demanded 92 cuts to Janaki Vs State of Kerala, eventually settling for two changes

According to several reports, the CBFC’s Mumbai division initially demanded a total of 92 changes to the film, including scenes and dialogues. However, when the case reached the Kerala High Court, things took an unprecedented turn. The censor board’s legal counsel revealed that they had eventually agreed to clear the film with just two modifications.

The first change involved a slight modification to the film’s original title to make it clear that the Janaki mentioned in the title refers only to the lead character, 'Janaki V.', and not Goddess Sita. Upon approval, the new title of the film became JSK Janaki V. v/s State of Kerala.

Another minor change was made regarding a specific cross-examination scene in the courtroom drama, where the name, Janaki, would be muted. Upon agreeing to these two modifications, the film finally got the clearance and secured the final certification.

The legal dispute has now raised a serious question about the case in terms of regional disparity within a single organisation. It turns out that the Kerala branch of CBFC had earlier passed the film without any cuts or edits, but the Mumbai division raised significant objections to the same film.

Kerala High Court gives the green signal for release

It was only after making the demanded modifications that, on July 11, 2025, the Kerala High Court finally gave its nod to Cosmos Entertainments to release the modified version of the film. Justice N Nagaresh noted that the petitioner’s grievances had been addressed and that no claims would arise from the use of previous promotional material bearing the older title. 

About Suresh Gopi and Anupama’s courtroom thriller

JSK Janaki V. v/s State of Kerala, directed by Pravin Narayanan, revolves around a woman’s plight for justice after she is sexually assaulted. The film is predominantly set in a courtroom backdrop and explores the failures of the justice system, told through the powerful performances of Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran.

JSK Janaki V. v/s State of Kerala finally hit theatres on July 17, 2025, in four languages, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu.

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