Suresh blames Mohanlal's Empuraan for JSK title change

Actor Suresh Gopi’s latest film 'Janaki vs State of Kerala' faced hurdles after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asked the makers to change its title just days before its release. The team subsequently agreed to rename the film as V Janaki vs State of Kerala. Amid the ongoing legal tussle, producer G. Suresh Kumar has pointed fingers at Mohanlal’s 'L2: Empuraan', blaming it for triggering the chain of events that affected the Suresh Gopi starrer.Suresh Kumar about Janaki vs State of Kerala facing CBFC cutSpeaking to Manorama Online, Kumar stated that the issues began when Empuraan faced its own censor troubles. “Empuraan had to be re-censored due to the controversy. That’s when the censor board became more cautious. That’s why this problem has arisen; everything began from there,” he said.The controversy stems from the film’s original title, Janaki vs State of Kerala, which the CBFC objected to due to the use of the name "Janaki".

The film, initially scheduled for release on 27 June, was denied certification over this naming issue, resulting in delays.

Janaki vs State of Kerala legal troubleRecently, the Kerala High Court was informed by the CBFC that the film could be approved if the title was altered to Janaki V vs State of Kerala or V Janaki vs State of Kerala. Additionally, the board recommended muting the character’s name during a courtroom dialogue.

Reports suggest that the film's team has agreed to the proposed changes, with a revised release date expected to be announced soon.Directed by Pravin Narayanan, the film stars Anupama Parameswaran in the lead role alongside Suresh Gopi, with his son Madhav Suresh appearing in a supporting role.About Empuraan controversyThe troubles with Empuraan began when some religious organisations objected to certain story elements they found offensive. The Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial was subsequently subjected to re-censoring.