Kochi, Nov 14 – The Kerala High Court today overturned a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) order that had demanded six cuts and had given the Malayalam movie Haal an adults‑only (A) rating. The court said the board’s insistence on so many edits could not stand, but it also told the makers to make two specific changes before the film can be re‑reviewed.
In its decision, Justice V G Arun, who had watched Haal in its original form, pointed out that the film—a love story between a Muslim boy and a Christian girl—does not contain explicit content or violence that would justify an A certificate. The CBFC had flagged several scenes as “sensitive” and argued that they crossed a “Lakshman Rekha” into potentially divisive religious territory.
The court now requires the producers to remove a scene where characters eat beef biriyani, delete or blur a line spoken to a cultural organisation (and a visible “rakhi”), and cut the dialogue “Adhil thanne… matha thilekkumii kanu…”. Once these edits are made, the filmmakers can renew their request, and the CBFC must decide within two weeks.
The producers had challenged the CBFC’s earlier order, which also demanded the removal of a song sequence featuring the heroine in Muslim attire and the blurring of an institution’s name. Senior counsel for the petitioners argued that the board had ignored the overall narrative, while the CBFC, represented by the Additional Solicitor General, maintained that it was protecting public order and religious sentiment.
Extra‑legal objections also came from outside groups. The Catholic Congress of Thamarassery Diocese claimed the film promoted “love jihad” by depicting a bishop endorsing an interfaith relationship without permission. An RSS functionary alleged that the film defamed the organisation and pushed “anti‑national” themes.
With the two mandatory edits in place, the court is now waiting for a fresh CBFC decision. The outcome will decide whether Haal can finally reach audiences or be pulled back from the screens.
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