In a democratic nation where freedom of speech and artistic expression are considered fundamental rights, a string of recent incidents involving the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has stirred fresh debate around censorship and creative liberty in Indian cinema. The two most prominent cases—Janaki V/S State of Kerala and Sitaare Zameen Par—highlight a concerning trend: creators are being forced to make politically and religiously motivated changes, often with little or no formal communication, just to get their films cleared for release.
A Name That Sparked Controversy
The Malayalam courtroom drama Janaki V/S State of Kerala starring Anupama Parameswaran and Union Minister Suresh Gopi was denied censor clearance at the last minute despite being scheduled for release on June 27. The issue? The protagonist’s name—Janaki. According to the CBFC, the name, which is another widely accepted form of Goddess Sita, was deemed inappropriate for a female character portrayed as a victim of assault.This sudden decision, lacking any formal written notice or show-cause, drew immediate criticism. FEFKA (Film Employees Federation of Kerala) general secretary B Unnikrishnan during his conversation with The Times Of India asked . “Many Hindu names are derived from deities—will they all face censorship?” Unnikrishnan, noting that his own telefilm with a character named Janaki had previously passed CBFC approval.This isn’t the first time such censorship over character names has occurred. Director M B Padmakumar faced similar pushback over a character named Janaki in his film Token Number. In that case, the CBFC had suggested replacing the name with “Jayanti” or “Krishnan”—names that lacked the supposed divine association and only when the name was changed to Jayanti was the film approved for screening.
CBFC’s Micro-Management of Creative Choices
If Janaki V/S State of Kerala presents a case of religious sensitivity gone awry, the CBFC’s treatment of Sitaare Zameen Par, starring Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh, showcases an even broader issue—political influence creeping into creative decisions.Bollywood Hungama in its report stated that after being unhappy with the cuts suggested by CBFC’s Examining Committee the film was eventually reviewed by the Revising Committee, headed by Vaman Kendre. Their suggestions involved the following changes
- Replace “Businesswoman” with the gender-neutral “Businessperson.”
- Replace “Michael Jackson” with the generic term “Lovebirds.”
- Remove a visual element tied to the word “Kamal” (interpreted as a reference to the lotus, the BJP party symbol).
- Most notably, include a quote by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the opening disclaimer
These demands raise an uncomfortable question: since when did CBFC’s role extend to prescribing political messages in fictional narratives? Adding a quote from a sitting prime minister turns it into an ideological imposition.Despite these interventions, Sitaare Zameen Par was eventually granted a U/A 13+ certificate, and the film released on June 20. But at what cost to artistic autonomy?
Are Certain Narratives Being Silenced?
With growing examples of this kind of interference, one must ask: will upcoming films that delve into sensitive mythological or historical subjects also face similar scrutiny?A case in point is Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita. The story of Ramayana is inherently complex and filled with emotionally intense sequences—Sita’s abduction by Ravana, her Agnipariksha (trial by fire), and her eventual abandonment by Ram despite being pregnant with Luv and Kush. These episodes are not only central to the plot but also deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.Will the CBFC now raise objections to how Sita’s trials are depicted? Will they argue that showing her as a victim undermines her divinity? If using a name like Janaki is already contentious, what of a film that retells her entire journey, including the injustices she faced?This isn’t just hypothetical—it’s a very real concern in today’s political and social climate, where identity, religion, and ideology intersect more than ever before.In the words of the late Satyajit Ray, “Cinema’s job is not to provide answers, but to ask the right questions.” It’s time the CBFC remembered that.
