Justice V.G. Arun privately viewed Haal, starring Shane Nigam, as its makers challenge the CBFC’s demand to cut key scenes. The film faces objections from the Catholic Congress over alleged religious depictions.
Justice V.G. Arun of the Kerala High Court recently watched the film Veera, directed by Muhammed Rafeeq and starring Shane Nigam, during a private screening held at a studio in Kakkanad, Kochi, in the evening. Representatives of the Catholic Congress were also present at the screening.
The Catholic Congress had earlier been allowed by the High Court to join the ongoing petition filed by the makers of the film.
The filmmakers had approached the Kerala High Court after the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) revision committee asked them to remove several scenes from Veera.
According to the petition, the CBFC demanded the deletion of around half a dozen scenes that the makers said were important to the story and message of the movie.
The director and producer stated before the court that many of these scenes were
“critical to the film’s theme.”
Among the scenes objected to by the CBFC was one showing “consumption of beef biriyani” and another depicting the “heroine using Muslim religious attire.”
The board also instructed the filmmakers to blur the “rakhi” seen in multiple scenes throughout the film.
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The Catholic Congress, which has now joined the case, filed an affidavit claiming that Veera allegedly portrays the Thamarassery Bishop as a supporter of “love jihad.”
The organisation said that this depiction
“hurts the religious sentiments of the Christian community, and could disturb peace in society.”
Based on these claims, the Catholic Congress requested to participate in the case to present its concerns, and the High Court permitted it.
The filmmakers argued that the CBFC’s demands to remove or blur several scenes would lead to further delays in the release of the film, which was originally planned for September 12.
They expressed concern that the revision committee’s directions would not only affect the creative integrity of the movie but also cause heavy financial losses. They told the court that almost Rs 15 crore had already been spent on the production of Veera.
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The filmmakers added that
“a few social evils might have been criticised and nothing in the movie promoted any kind of enmity or violence.”
The Kerala High Court is currently reviewing the matter, and the case has been listed for its next hearing on October 30.
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