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KOCHI: A name as old as ancient mythology has ignited a modern-day firestorm in Kerala's film industry. Janaki vs State of Kerala (JSK), a yet-to-be-released courtroom drama, has triggered furious anger among filmmakers, artists and producers, all rallying against what they call the "arbitrary and choking" decisions of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). On Monday, the who's who of Mollywood -- including FEFKA, KFPA and AMMA members -- gathered outside the CBFC office in Thiruvananthapuram, venting frustration over a censorship regime they claim is becoming unpredictable, unreasonable and ruinous for creativity. "This isn't just about Janaki, this is about artistic survival," thundered Renji Panicker, head of FEFKA's Directors' Union. "What next? Will filmmakers have to name their characters One, Two, and Three because religious names are off-limits? This is a cultural chokehold." The immediate trigger? The CBFC's objection to protagonists called Janaki, a revered name for Ramayana's Sita, in two films, JSK and Token Number. While mythological names in films are nothing new (think Seeta Aur Geeta or Ram Lakhan), filmmakers are now being asked to rewrite, re-dub, and essentially re-construct their films post-production to appease the board's new sensibilities. The Kerala High Court itself was baffled. "If Ram Lakhan and Seeta Aur Geeta didn't raise eyebrows, why Janaki?" the court asked while hearing a petition filed by JSK's producer Cosmos Entertainment. But the damage is done. Director M B Padmakumar was forced to rename his Token Number heroine to avoid a stand-off with censors. "The issue was not just her name, it was her relationship with another character, Abraham," he said. "We had to fight, but eventually we gave in. And we're not alone." Even L2: Empuraan, starring industry giants Mohanlal and Prithviraj, wasn't spared. After a storm of right-wing outrage post-release, the film was voluntarily re-edited and re-certified, delaying its rollout and denting its momentum. "It's now a guessing game," lamented KFPA vice president G Suresh Kumar. "You finish shooting, editing, spend crores, and then you're told to change character names to get a certificate? That's not just censorship. That's sabotage."
Thiruvananthapuram, May 21: Malayalam cinema's iconic actor Mohanlal turned 65 on Wednesday. The veteran star is celebrating the occasion with his entire family in Thailand. As he nears the golden jubilee of his illustrious acting career, Mohanlal's achievements continue to shine. He has won five National Film Awards, including two Best Actor honours, a Special Jury Mention, a Special Jury Award, and a Best Feature Film award as a producer. He has also been conferred with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, two of India's highest civilian honours. Coincidentally, his birthday comes when two of ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 12 (PTI) Malayalam superstar Mohanlal says he will definitely come and work in Hindi movies if filmmakers in Bollywood offer him roles. One of the most influential Malayalam cinema stars, Mohanlal has been part of over 300 films, including all time hits such as "Manichitrathazhu", "Kireedam", "Bharatham", "Drishyam" and "Pulimurugan". "I have done a couple of Hindi films also. But now most of my other films are dubbed into Hindi. When somebody calls me for a role I'll definitely come and work. I don't mind. I don't have a choice. As actors we don't have a choice. Let it come. Let ...Read More >
Chennai: Malayalam actor and director Prithviraj Sukumaran recently revealed that he was given an incredible opportunity by Subaskaran, the head of the renowned Tamil film production house Lyca Productions, to direct a film starring Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. Speaking at the teaser launch of his highly anticipated Malayalam film L2: Empuraan, Prithviraj shared the details, saying, "I have been assigned the task of welcoming Lyca Productions into Malayalam cinema. This obviously is their first ever project in Malayalam. It is a bit of an anecdote. I think now, it is safe to say that Subaskar ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at 15 places in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the Mithi River desilting scam that caused a wrongful loss of more than Rs 65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), official sources said. The massive crackdown is underway at the premises across Mumbai and Kochi linked to the accused and suspects as part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities. According to the sources, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at locat ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Bollywood fans are super excited, and the wait for Ramayana just keeps getting harder! Directed by Dangal fame Nitesh Tiwari, this upcoming film is turning into one of the biggest projects in Indian cinema. The movie promises to bring back the great Indian epic Ramayana with modern visuals, strong emotions, and a huge cast. One of the biggest reasons for the excitement is Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram. Known for serious and emotional roles, Ranbir is now taking on one of the most important characters in Indian mythology. Fans are already in love with this casting and can't wait to ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
KOCHI: Questioning the censor board's objection to the use of 'Janaki' in an upcoming Malayalam film and the need for modifying its title, the Kerala High Court on Friday observed that 'Janaki' was a common name used everywhere. It also wondered how the name could affect a particular section of society, as it did not belong to any specific caste or religion. Justice N Nagaresh made the remarks during the hearing of the petition filed by Cosmos Entertainments, the producer of 'JSK-Janaki Vs State of Kerala', which stars Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran in lead roles. The Tam ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted India's public health milestones, growing grassroots participation and women-led development efforts, while reflecting upon the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. In the 123rd edition of his monthly talk show Mann ki Baat, PM Modi recalled the nationwide enthusiasm surrounding the 10th International Yoga Day, observed on June 21. He noted in detail the wide-scale participation across the country and abroad, with the headline events in Visakhapatnam witnessing three lakh people perform yoga, and 2,000 tribal students condu ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood's Khiladi Akshay Kumar showcased his philosophical side as he shared a heartfelt message on the true essence of life. Taking to Instagram, the actor shared a thoughtful note where he emphasized the importance of cherishing small and joyful moments. Kumar also reminded fans that real wealth lies not in material possessions but in the stolen moments of happiness. Sharing his throwback image, the 'Kesari Chapter 2' actor wrote, "In life, we accumulate stolen moments of happiness. That's your real wealth."- A reminder to laugh loud, love deep, and cheris ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
Hyderabad: When you're a producer like Dil Raju, known for smart story choices and perfect release timing, even one wrong film can shake your foundation. That's exactly what happened with Game Changer, the political thriller starring Ram Charan and directed by Shankar. Initially, Game Changer had all the right elements - a superstar hero, a legendary director, and a Rs. 450 crore budget. But constant delays and weak promotions killed the buzz. When it finally released on January 10, 2025, the response was disappointing. Despite a grand opening, negative word-of-mouth hit the film hard, and bo ...Read More >
Sivakarthikeyan's Amaran has emerged as his biggest box-office success to date, surpassing the Rs 300-crore mark at the worldwide box office collection.Shiv Karthikeyan and Sai Pallavi marked a milestone in film industry through the movie Amaran. The film joins an elite club as the ninth Tamil movie to achieve this milestone, following hits like Rajinikanth's Enthiran, Kabali, 2.0, Jailer, along with Biigilmovie, Varisu, Leo, and The GOAT. Featuring Sivakarthikeyan as Major Mukund Varadarajan, alongside Sai Pallavi, Bhuvan Arora, and Rahul Bose, Amaran draws inspiration from true military st ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) A Kerala businessman, who recently levelled corruption charges against an ED officer posted in the state, has recorded his statement with the central agency where he is understood to have denied knowing or having any evidence against the said investigator, official sources said Sunday. The businessman, Aneesh Babu, deposed before the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi on June 6 and his statement was recorded under audio-visual camera by the agency as per the provisions of section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Such a statement made under the anti-mo ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 27 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the 'Samman Program for Democracy Fighters on completion of 50 years of Emergency' organised at the Himalayan Cultural Centre, Dehradun. CM Dhami said that the period of Emergency will always be marked as a black chapter in Indian democratic history. Paying tribute to the democracy fighters, CM Dhami said, 'Today we are getting the privilege of honouring the great heroes who protected democracy. The period of Emergency will always be marked as a black chapter in Indian democratic his ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joins names such as Kamal Haasan, Ariana Grande, and Jeremy Strong at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. Ayushmann along with names such as Kamal Haasan Naomi Ackie, Gillian Anderson, Branford Marsalis, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Jason Momoa are among 534 individuals who were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on June 26. "We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy," said Ac ...Read More >
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan extended heartfelt congratulations to film icon Kamal Haasan following his invitation to join the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) -- the organization responsible for presenting the Oscars. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pawan Kalyan called Kamal Haasan's recognition a moment of "immense pride to Indian film industry". He praised Haasan as a "phenomenal actor" with cinematic brilliance spanning six decades and described him as more than just an actor -- a storyteller, director, ...Read More >
It's been 25 years since Refugee released. The film marked the debut of Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor, two fresh faces who would go on to become big names in Bollywood. Looking back on those early days, Abhishek recently shared a fun memory from that time. He recalled how he and Kareena once had to be locked inside a projector room during a theatre visit because fans found out they were there. In an interview with SCREEN, Abhishek Bachchan said, "I have vivid memories! I was filming in Ma ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 27: Union Home Minister Amit Shah began his Gujarat visit on a spiritual note early Friday morning by participating in the Mangala Aarti at the historic Shri Jagannathji Temple in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad. The visit coincides with the auspicious occasion of the annual Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra, a major religious event that draws thousands of devotees every year. Arriving at the temple at 3:15 a.m., HM Shah joined in the sacred rituals and offered prayers to Mahaprabhu Jagannath. Sharing his experience on social media platform X, he posted, "On the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra, par ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 14 (ANI): Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan, best known for his film 'Marco', has announced his decision to step down as the treasurer of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Mukundan took to his Instagram account to share a note in which he explained that increasing work commitments had taken a toll on his "mental health." However, he assured that he would continue in the role until a replacement is found to ensure a smooth transition. "I hope this message finds you well. After much thought and reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down ...Read More >
Punjab '95 Controversy: Diljit Dosanjh has been awaiting the release of his highly controversial film for a couple of years now. The film has been completed and kept on hold for longer than expected due to several reasons. It was recently announced that the biopic will skip India and will be released internationally without any cuts on February 7, 2025, but has been postponed yet again indefinitely. Dosanjh took to his Instagram stories on 20th January mid-night and wrote, "We are sorry and it pains us to inform you that Punjab '95 will not release on 7th Feb due to circumstances beyond our c ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Chennai, June 27: The prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Oscar Awards each year, has now extended an invitation to one of Indian cinema's iconic stars Kamal Haasan to join it. The Academy has extended invitations to 534 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures to join it this year and Kamal Haasan is one among them. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said,"We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy. Through ...Read More >
New Delhi: The pan-India mythological drama 'Kannappa', starring Vishnu Manchu and featuring cameos by Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Prabhas, and Kajal Aggarwal, hit cinemas on June 27, 2025. Despite its star-studded cast and grand production, the film has seen a slow start at the box office. According to early estimates from Sacnilk, 'Kannappa' earned ₹9 crore net in India on its first day of release. Although this marks Vishnu Manchu's biggest opener, it falls short of expectations considering the film's massive budget of ₹200 crore and the presence of big-name stars. The film saw varying occupa ...Read More >
New Delhi: On this day in 2024, India defeated South Africa by 7 runs and lifted the T20 World Cup title at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. India posted a 177-run target for the Proteas in 20 overs after opting to bat first. Virat Kohli smashed 76 runs off 59 balls with the help of six boundaries and two maximums. Axar Patel also batted brilliantly and scored 47 runs off 31 balls, hitting four maximums and one boundary in his sensational knock. Chasing the target of 177 runs, Bumrah provided India their first breakthrough when he removed Reeza Hendricks in the second over of the run-chase, ...Read More >
Vijayawada: Tripura Governor Nallu Indrasena Reddy stressed the importance of mental health as essential to the nation's progress while inaugurating the M.Phil Clinical Psychology and Professional Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PDCP) courses at Indlas Hospitals here on Monday. Speaking at the event, Indrasena Reddy stated that the vision of a Viksita Bharat (Developed India) is incomplete without ensuring the mental well-being of its citizens. Along with medical and health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav, he handed over admission letters to students of the newly-launched courses. He also point ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister V Sivankutty has once again reacted to the Central Board of Film Certification's objection to the name of the lead character in the upcoming Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala, which stars Union Minister Suresh Gopi. "My name is Sivankutty... Will the censor board be coming this way?!" Sivankutty wrote on social media. Earlier, the minister had also quipped whether it is a "censor board or senseless board." CBFC had informally objected to the title and character name 'Janaki' for a rape victim, citing religious sensitivities. The Kerala High Court ...Read More >
Mumbai: Actor Ravi Dubey, known for his versatility, has officially confirmed his role as Lakshman in the highly anticipated Ramayana. Speaking to Connect Cine, Ravi shared his excitement about joining the star-studded cast and praised his co-star Ranbir Kapoor, who is playing Lord Ram in the film. Ravi expressed his gratitude for being a part of this epic project, saying, "I am playing Lakshman in the film. I finally have the permission from the makers to reveal this. I didn't talk about it all this while because I didn't want to give irresponsible statements and spoil Namit (Malhotra) and N ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Telugu superstar Allu Arjun on Thursday said the humongous success of his latest release "Pushpa 2: The Rule" is a reflection of people's love and he hopes the box office record of the film, which has become the fastest movie to earn Rs 1,000 crore, is broken soon by another movie. A sequel to Arjun's 2021 Telugu blockbuster "Pushpa: The Rise", the film released on December 5 with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam, and has emerged as one of the biggest hits of 2024. Also Read | RSIFF 2024: Nick Jonas Reveals Being Fascinated by Priyanka ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Vellore, Jun 26 (PTI) Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday hit out at the AIADMK alleging they remained mute spectators when the Dravidian icons, including reformist leader Periyar EV Ramasamy, who shaped Tamil Nadu were denigrated in a conference held days ago by a Sangh Parivar outfit. Stalin alleged the BJP was trying to divide the Tamil Nadu people on the basis of religion and caste. While the Saffron party alleged "threat to religion," it is only the BJP alliance that is in danger, he said. Addressing a government function in Tirupathur district, Stalin said, in view of the resounding ...Read More >