KATHAKALI IS KERALA'S UDTA PUNJAB?

The relationship between Malayalam cinema and the Central Board of Film Certification has hit a rough patch again when the Board demanded the makers of the movie ‘Kathakali’ to perform three cuts including the climax scene. The makers approaching the High Court have brought the Board under the heat in succession to the controversy surrounding Udta Punjab.

The director of the movie Oscar Saijo Kannanaikal expressed his resentment by saying that there was no anti-national, sexual or offensive shots in his movie, it just had a soulful scene of a man removing his Kathakali costumes and then walking away naked into the river. He was baffled to hear a censor officer say that they can't even give an 'A' certificate to the movie. He condemned the Board for failing to understand the aesthetic value of symbolic representation. He blamed the officer of discarding the suggestion of the panel which suggested to give the movie a ‘U’ certificate.

The Board’s regional officer Prathibha A responded that they had followed all the rules and had issued a notice to the makers after watching the movie. She added that the makers never responded to the notice or went for an appeal, and instead they went to media.

The theme of the movie revolves around an orphan’s attempt to carve out a space and identity for himself in the society. The struggle has shifted from the reels into the real life of the director who has taken up the challenge to fight for the movie and make a difference. Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) general secretary B Unnikrishnan along with its members staged a protest in front of CBFC office at Chritranjali Studio on 21st June, against denial of certification by alleging that the movie portrayed nudity and vulgarity.

Saijo had posted on his blog and uploaded a video named ‘Nude song for Justice of Kathakali movie' having lyrics “I like to be naked, I am scared to be naked… I was born naked, you have tied me with clothes”. In the blog, he began by explaining the issue and said that agreeing to the CBFC’s demand would be like making a beautiful sculpture and then beheading it. He pointed out many instances where movies easily got certificates in spite of having bolder scenes in them. He said that the Censor Board failed to recognize the struggle many people go through in making films with less commercial and more artistic value.

The director expressed his helplessness and unavailability of financial support to run the case in court. His only hope lies in FEFKA’s help in handling the case and the Kerala High Court issuing a notice to the CBFC and the Central government on 22nd June.

Saijo is suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis and it has affected 60% of his ability to move freely. Thus the CBFC’s decision has really hit him hard.

Shyam Nettayikkodath Muraleedharan