A public interest litigation has been filed in the Kerala High Court seeking a direction to re-title the film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond so that it does not include the word “Kerala” or “Keralam” in its title. The petitioners include a retired social science teacher and a Muslim woman who also practises as an advocate before the Kerala High Court, and they contend that their locus is similar to petitioners in earlier matters challenging the certification of the movie. The plea recounts the recent legal history of the film’s release, noting that in the previous week a Single Judge of the High Court had stayed the release of the film on the ground that admitted scenes in the teaser had the potential to disturb communal harmony. The Single Judge’s stay was subsequently challenged by the film’s producer and the Division Bench lifted the interim stay, allowing the movie to be released on its scheduled date after observing that the Central Board of Film Certification had viewed the film in full and applied its mind before granting certification.
The present PIL highlights these developments and particularly emphasises that the appeal was listed urgently before the Division Bench just a couple of hours after the Single Judge had granted the interim stay. The petitioners have therefore sought a direction commanding the Union Government and the Central Board of Film Certification to ensure that the film is not hereafter exhibited, broadcast, streamed, advertised or otherwise made available to the public under a title containing the word “Kerala” or “Keralam”. They also seek a direction requiring the producer to re-title the film in a manner that does not stigmatise or defame the State of Kerala or its people.
In addition to the primary prayer for re-titling, the petitioners have also sought interim relief on the same basis. They advance the argument that the title of a film, and the way it is marketed, should not denigrate, stereotype, or hold up to hatred or contempt any identifiable State, region, caste, religious or other community. To this end, they pray for a direction to the Union Government and the Central Board of Film Certification to formulate, publish, and implement clear guidelines governing the titling and marketing of films to ensure that titles and taglines do not have the effect of denigrating or stereotype any identifiable community or region. The PIL has been filed under the caption Chandramohan K.C. and Another v. Union of India and Others and awaits further hearing before the High Court.
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