A Malayalam film is stuck — because it uses one of Sita's names
Team TOI Plus
TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Jul 4, 2025, 15:48 IST IST
The Kerala high court is now watching the film on July 5 to determine if 'concerns' about the use of the name 'Janaki' for a rape survivor make any sense. Is India's film certification slowly slipping into the territory of censorship?
Of the 100-odd names ascribed to Sita , the one most deeply rooted in her humanity is now seen as being too sensitive to use.
Days before release, the producers of a Malayalam courtroom drama, JSK : Janaki vs State of Kerala , found out that its certification was stalled — because the Central Board of Film Certification ( CBFC ) was concerned about its use of the name 'Janaki', a name for Sita which refers to her origin as the daughter of the earth.
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