While the controversy over the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) alleged demand to change the title of the upcoming Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala continues to fume, with various film organisations launching public protests as well, another row has emerged alongside it, drawing legendary filmmaker Sibi Malayil into the spotlight. This “sub-controversy” began after director MB Padmakumar took offence to certain remarks Sibi made about his upcoming film while speaking on the broader issue surrounding Janaki vs State of Kerala. Padmakumar also claimed that Sibi’s comments have negatively impacted his film’s release.
Speaking to the media, Sibi recently recalled that Padmakumar’s film Token Number had faced a similar situation with the CBFC, where certification was initially denied unless specific changes were made, particularly to the names of the lead characters. Since Padmakumar’s was a “small film”, Sibi said, the director himself resolved the issue by changing the name.
According to The Hindu, Padmakumar revealed that although there was no official communication from the CBFC regarding the alleged issues with Token Number, the board’s Mumbai headquarters refused certification until he changed the name of one of the protagonists, Janaki or Abraham. This was despite the film receiving clearance from the CBFC’s regional office. “A film by a director named Padmakumar also had a similar issue concerning a name. That film also had Janaki in it. The Censor Board decided that it would not be approved or certified without changing the name ‘Janaki’. It’s a small film, one made to be sent to film festivals. The director handled it directly himself,” Sibi claimed.
Taking offence to the veteran director’s apparent dismissal of his movie as merely a “small film” or “award film”, Padmakumar alleged that Sibi’s remarks caused the distributor, who had agreed to release the film, to back out. Padmakumar added that when he initially faced difficulties with the CBFC, he had approached several members of film associations but received no help.
“Who told Sibi Malayil sir that my film is an ‘award film’ or a ‘small film’? If there are no superstars or if it’s not a big-budget film, it automatically becomes a small film or what, sir? And the audience shouldn’t see it, is that it, sir? Did you even see the film, sir, or did you know anything about it? Isn’t this exactly what the Censor Board also did? Didn’t they approach it with prejudice without even watching the film? Do you know something, sir? This is a film I made by toiling for the last seven months, sacrificing my food and sleep.”
“After all was done, I finally got the film censored. I got it done feeling defeated and scared. After that, it had to reach theatres, but it had no superstars. Sir, this film’s face is that of the many people who have dreamed of cinema for years; their livelihood is the very content of this film. Without superstars, it’s incredibly difficult to get a theatre screen. No distributor will come forward. With great difficulty and by paying from my own pocket, I had arranged for a person to distribute it. Do you know what he told me after hearing your comment? He called me and said, ‘You told me this was a big film that the audience would love. But now Sibi Malayil himself has said it’s a small film. I am not investing money in an ‘award film’.’ Sir, you have thrown sand in my rice bowl,” Padmakumar said in a video, titled “Just kill me, Mr Sibi Malayil”, shared via his official YouTube channel.
