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Quick Take: Anupama Parameswaran's nuanced portrayal and a vital theme are eclipsed by uneven storytelling and an overdose of theatrics. When Janaki V vs State of Kerala opens in theatres after a contentious run-in with censors, expectations naturally surge. This isn't just another star vehicle; it's a film that openly claims seriousness, positioning itself as an earnest exploration of victimhood, justice, and systemic failure. Director Pravin Narayanan sets his narrative within a familiar framework, a courtroom drama; but attempts to use it as a canvas for deeper moral interrogations. Yet, despite its commendable intent, the film stumbles, frequently distracted by its own ambition. At its emotional core is Janaki, portrayed with admirable restraint by Anupama Parameswaran. Janaki's trauma, an assault compounded by layers of societal apathy, is conveyed without exploitation or melodrama. Anupama delivers a strikingly internalised performance. She doesn't rely on overt displays of anguish; instead, it's the hesitation before she speaks, the slight tremor in her voice, or the quiet defiance in her eyes that lends authenticity to her character. These are moments of genuine emotional insight, quietly reinforcing that the film's strength lies more in subtlety than grandstanding. However, subtlety isn't a term one readily associates with Advocate David Abel Donovan, played by Suresh Gopi. This role marks a prominent return for Gopi, and his presence is unquestionably charismatic. Donovan is a character tailor-made for bravado: a lawyer whose rhetoric echoes through courtrooms, resonating with audiences who cherish the actor's legacy. Yet, here lies the film's paradox: Gopi's performance, laden with fiery speeches and larger-than-life gestures, pulls the film into an altogether different tonal universe. His portrayal is engaging and awe-inspiring on its own but feels jarring within a story that demands a lot more emotional grounding. The film's narrative structure further compounds this problem. Initially, director Pravin Narayanan does well to set the stakes high, establishing Janaki's struggle and the complexity of proving assault within a flawed legal system. However, as the plot progresses, the script becomes increasingly entangled in unnecessary diversions. Instead of focusing on Janaki's quest for justice or even the strategic intricacies of courtroom battles, the film gets sidetracked, spinning webs of political intrigue, public manipulation, and unnecessary subplots. These deviations add minutes but subtract impact, diluting the intensity built by the promising first hour. Technically, Janaki V vs State of Kerala retains some commendable touches. Cinematographer Renadive crafts visuals marked by subtle realism, effectively capturing the claustrophobia of courtroom exchanges. Ghibran's background score suitably complements the on-screen tension without overshadowing performances. Yet, neither technical skill nor Parameswaran's heartfelt portrayal can fully rescue a narrative hampered by indulgent pacing and thematic overreach. The supporting cast, particularly Shruti Ramachandran and Divya Pillai, hold the film together in parts even as it stumbles into melodramatic territory. Ultimately, Janaki V vs State of Kerala emerges as a film of missed opportunities. It carries important messages about dignity, autonomy, and institutional neglect, but falters because it tries too hard to project these themes through loud, star-focused flourishes. While one wishes the film had trusted the subtle power of its protagonist, the creators seemingly decided louder was better. As a result, this becomes a case of noble intentions overshadowed by narrative noise. Also Read; Suresh Gopi Returns to Courtroom Fire in Janaki V Vs State of Kerala Trailer
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 >
Janaki V vs State of Kerala trailer: JSK, starring Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran in pivotal roles, is set to release worldwide on July 17. Janaki V vs State of Kerala trailer: "I have got nothing to hide, nor to fear," declares Janaki Vidhyadharan (Anupama Parameswaran) with an expression one can usually find on the faces of only two kinds of people: the exceptionally brave or those with nothing left to lose. So, where exactly does Janaki fall on that spectrum? The trailer of the much-anticipated controversial legal drama Janaki V v/s State of Kerala (formerly titled Janaki v/s State o ...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 >
Kolkata: The past week in West Bengal has been nothing short of a political theatre of the absurd, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) descending into public infighting over one of the most sensitive issues, gang rape. What should have been an occasion for empathy, justice, and responsible leadership has instead turned into an embarrassing spectacle, exposing the party's deep-rooted lack of accountability and a shocking disregard for survivors of sexual violence. The trigger for this latest round of controversy was the appalling gang rape of a law student from South Calcutta Law College. Inste ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday flagged the issue of people abusing their fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression on social media. A bench led by Justice B.V. Navarathna also stated that reasonable restrictions over the fundamental right of speech and expression are rightly imposed and need to be complied with by citizens. All reasonable restrictions is rightly put. Just because technology is there, doesnt mean youll abuse it, Justice Nagarathna stated. The Supreme Court judge also said that citizens must apply self-regulation and restraint when s ...Read More >
The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of self-regulation and understanding the value of freedom of speech and expression, while hearing a plea regarding offensive social media posts. The court is considering guidelines to regulate such posts, stressing the need to curb divisive tendencies without resorting to censorship. The Supreme Court on Monday said citizens must know the value of freedom of speech and expression and observe self regulation as it mulled guidelines to regulate offensive ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has suggested prioritising women in allocation of deceased donor organs.In a letter to the states/UTs, the apex authority for regulating organ donations and transplants in the country, has said a provision should be made to mark additional points for women recipients of donor organs, to address gender disparity. Studies have shown that while women make up a large percentage of donors, they receive fewer organs than men. "Women are equally vulnerable when it comes to end-stage organ failure due to illness, and it is import ...Read More >
KOCHI: The controversy over the use of the name Janaki in the film JSK - Janaki v/s State of Kerala, starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi, saw a new development on Wednesday with the film's producers informing the Kerala High Court that they are willing to incorporate the suggestions made by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Accordingly, changes will be made to the subtitle of the movie, modifying it from Janaki to Janaki V. With this change, the revised title of the film will be JSK - Janaki V v/s State of Kerala. When the petition filed by Cosmos Entertainments, Tamil Nadu the ...Read More >
Manoj Bajpayee warns that the Indian film industry's obsession with box office numbers, likened to Bhasmasura, threatens independent cinema. Manoj Bajpayee, one of India's most respected actors, has spoken out against the growing focus on box office numbers in the film industry. Bajpayee warns that the obsession with collections can be harmful. He describes it as a "monster" that could end up hurting even the people who created it. His comments come ahead of the release of his upcoming film, Jug ...Read More >
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. The new Indian blockbuster Kantara Chapter 1 has crossed the $80 million-mark at the global box office in two weeks since it first hit theatres on October 2. According to Comscore data, the Kannada mythological drama closed its second weekend at $69.3 million and ranked as the eighth top-grossing film worldwide for the weekend ending October 12. The Indian film completed fifteen days at the global ticket windows on October 15, ...Read More >
Emraan Hashmi on Ba***ds Of Bollywood. (Photo: Instagram) Emraan Hashmi has broken his silence on the viral response to a memorable dialogue and scene inspired by his film career in the recently released OTT series The Ba***ds of Bollywood. The Aryan Khan directorial Ba***ds of Bollywood has been creating quite a buzz in the entertainment industry for its portrayal of the Hindi film world. What's Happening * In one of the viral scenes, actor Raghav Juyal, who plays a die-hard fan of Hashmi, i ...Read More >
Kochi, Jul 9 (PTI) The makers of 'Janaki vs State of Kerala', starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi, informed the Kerala High Court on Wednesday that they are willing to change the film's title to "V Janaki" or "Janaki V", as suggested by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The statement was made during a hearing on a plea filed by the producers challenging the CBFC's objection to the original title "Janaki", which had delayed the film's clearance. Also Read | Pappu Yadav, Kanhaiya Kumar 'Not Allowed' to Board Rahul Gandhi-Tejashwi Yadav's Chariot During 'Bihar Bandh' Protests in P ...Read More >
Janaki vs State of Kerala (JSK), starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi, informed the Kerala High Court on Wednesday that the film received the censor board approval on July 11, 2025, and will be released this week. In view of the submission, Justice N Nagaresh observed that the primary grievance of the petitioner -- the film's production company -- stands redressed and disposed of its plea. The court also declared that, given the peculiar circumstances in which a revised version of the movie was ...Read More >
MUMBAI -- Gaurav Gupta returned to the spotlight in India, staging his biggest runway show to date last weekend. The designer, who has become a red-carpet favorite from the Met Gala to the Oscars, unveiled his first Indian bridal couture collection with all the grandeur of an Indian wedding. With the country's $130 billion wedding industry heading into what is projected to be its biggest season yet, the show marked a strategic move for a label that has built a global reputation for avant-garde c ...Read More >
Story: Muncie Daniels (Colman Domingo), a charismatic CNN commentator and former activist, whose quiet retreat to a cabin in the Poconos spirals into chaos when he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his white supremacist neighbour. Review: The Madness is a gripping yet uneven political thriller, elevated by a commanding performance from Colman Domingo as Muncie Daniels. Forced to go on the run, Muncie unravels a dangerous conspiracy while battling the fallout in his personal and professional life. What sets The Madness apart is Domingo's exceptional portrayal of Muncie. He brings a re ...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 >
All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here Finding the best PR agency out there is harder than it sounds. You have a lot of options, and most of them promise the same things. You need exposure, press coverage and brand growth from your PR agency, but how do you actually know which one is right for you? Why Most PR Agencies Fall Short? Traditional PR firms are expensive. You will have to spe ...Read More >
Chennai: The release of director Krish Jagarlamudi's eagerly-awaited action thriller 'Ghaati', featuring actors Anushka Shetty and Vikram Prabhu in the lead, has been postponed, its makers announced on Saturday. The film was supposed to hit screens on July 11 this year. Taking to its social media pages, UV Creations, one of the production houses producing the film, posted a statement that was titled, "A Note from the Heart of Ghaati." In it, the production house said, "Cinema is a living river.. sometimes it rushes forward, sometimes it pauses to gather depth. Ghaati is not just a film; it' ...Read More >
Chennai, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) If sources in the industry are to be believed, megastar Chiranjeevi's much-anticipated socio-fantasy entertainer 'Vishwambhara' will feature an unprecedented number of VFX shots, raising the bar for Indian cinema and promising an immersive cinematic experience like never before. Sources claim that the film, which is currently in its final stages of post-production, will be a visual extravaganza. Top-tier VFX studios from Tollywood, Bollywood, and Hollywood are powering the film's post-production work. Sources claim these teams are working with meticulous atte ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Thousands of people who gathered at ashoorkhana in Dabeerpura on the 10th day of Muharram (Youm-e-Ashura) took part in the Bibi-ka-Alam procession. The procession commenced from Dabeerpura on an elephant and concluded at Chaderghat. The Shia mourners took out the procession to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hussain, on the 10th day of Muharram. Members of the Shia sect performed matam and participated in processions. The 10th Muharram is the day on which Imam Hussain was martyred in the battle of Karbala by Yazid and his army. The relic made of ...Read More >
Kochi: After weeks of controversy over its title, the Suresh Gopi-starrer 'Janaki V vs State of Kerala' has finally received a U/A certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Director Pravin Narayanan announced the update on social media: "Janaki V V/s State of Kerala - U/A 16." Initially, the CBFC had raised strong objections to the film's title, citing that 'Janaki' is another name for the Hindu goddess Sita, and had proposed 96 cuts. However, following backlash and a legal appeal by the filmmakers in the Kerala High Court, the board revised its stance, eventually re ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 15 (ANI): Bhanushali Studios Limited, led by Vinod Bhanushali, is set to creatively collaborate with director Michael Bay for a film, who is known for helming movies like 'Bad Boys', 'Armageddon', 'Pearl Harbor', 'Transformers' franchise and others. Taking to their X handle, Bhanushali Studios announced the onboarding of director Michael Bay for a film helmed by Anthony D'Souza. In addition to the Hollywood filmmaker, AR Rahman has joined the project to compose the film's music. Bhanushali Studios wrote, "Bhanushali Studios Limited, led by Vinod Bhanush ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 5 (ANI): Days after netizens reacted with mixed opinions to the first teaser of Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Ramayana,' actor Hrithik Roshan addressed the debate surrounding the film's VFX and visual style. The teaser of the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer received praise for its scale and music; however, it also drew criticism from some viewers over its visual effects. As the debate continued on social media, Hrithik addressed the conversation through a detailed note. Reflecting on his own journey with visual storytelling and how "bad VFX" can feel, Hrithik shared how de ...Read More >
Dhar's "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" released on March 19 and has already crossed the mark of ₹1500 crore at the global box office. It is a sequel to his 2025 directorial "Dhurandhar". The filmmaker shared a series of pictures alongside Nowlakha on his Instagram handle on Sunday and said the cinematographer was among the last to join the film. "Here's to Vikash Nowlakha, the eye, the instinct, and the soul behind 'Dhurandhar'. He was the last HOD to come on board 'Dhurandhar'. Just a few days bef ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Santosh Singh's romantic drama Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, based on Ruskin Bond's classic short story The Eyes Have It released in theatres on July 11. The film marks the much-talked-about debut of Shanaya Kapoor, daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor, and pairs her opposite critically acclaimed actor Vikrant Massey. With music by Vishal Mishra and presented by Zee Studios and Mini Films, the movie promises a blend of romance, introspection, and emotional depth. But now that the film is finally in front of audiences, the question remains: how did it land with viewers? Initial reactions on X ...Read More >
Mumbai, Aug 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Stars: **** (4 stars), Director - Arun Gopalan Cast - John Abraham, Neeru Bajwa, Manushi Chhillar, Hadi Khajanpour Duration - 118 Minutes 'Tehran' fires on all fronts, a gritty, grounded thriller where politics, pain, and patriotism collide. 'Tehran' is a gripping geo-political thriller rooted in the real events of the 2012 attack on Israeli diplomats in India -- and it doesn't shy away from showing the messy, murky world of global politics. From the very beginning, it makes it clear that this isn't going to be a simple good vs evil narrative. Instead, it pl ...Read More >
Kochi: General Secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), B Unnikrishnan on Friday termed as "distrurbing" and "arbitrary," the alleged demand of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to the makers of 'Janaki vs State of Kerala' to change the name of both the film and its title character. Producers of 'Janaki Vs State of Kerala' (JSK) starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi and directed by Pravin Narayanan have approached the Kerala High Court regarding the alleged unofficial directive from the CBFC. FEFKA General Secretary Unnikrishnan told ANI, "We are also not very ...Read More >
Veteran filmmaker Velu Prabhakaran passed away in Chennai on the morning of July 18 at the age of 68, after battling health issues. He had been receiving treatment at a private hospital for the past few days before he breathed his last. Renowned filmmaker Velu Prabhakaran passed away on the morning of July 18 in Chennai, following a period of ill health. He had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital for the past few days. He was 68. The Tamil film industry is in mourning following his ...Read More >
Bhopal, June 27 (UNI) In a bizarre incident, 19 vehicles of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav's convoy broke down together after diesel allegedly mixed with water was filled in their tanks at a fuel station in the Ratlam district of the state late Thursday night. Authorities carried out an inspection of the fuel station, and subsequently it was sealed. The stalled vehicles, mostly Toyota Innovas, had to be towed away and a replacement fleet was summoned hurriedly from Indore, to be used for the CM, who arrived in Ratlam on Friday afternoon and inaugurated the Regional Industry, Sk ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Thousands of devotees of Lord Jagannath enthusiastically participated in the Jagannath Rath Yatra organised by the ISKCON temple at Abids. Chanting slogans of 'Jai Jagannath', they joined the divine journey of the deities on their chariots on Friday. The city's famous ISKCON Temples took out grand processions from their respective temples, with the lanes beautifully decorated with traditional rangoli. The magnificent chariot carrying Lord Jagannath, along with Balarama and Subhadra, was paraded from several locations, including the Secunderabad ISKCON Temple to Clock Tower and fro ...Read More >