The Kerala High Court has set a hearing for Friday, as both the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the central government requested additional time to submit their affidavits. This comes in response to a petition disputing the ‘A’ certificate issued for the Malayalam film Haal, alongside the board’s contentious demand for the removal of six specific scenes.
According to the filmmakers, the CBFC’s revision committee had, earlier this month, insisted on cutting several scenes deemed crucial to the movie’s core message. These demands reportedly included deleting a scene showing the consumption of beef biryani, another where the lead actress uses Muslim religious attire to conceal her identity, and blurring the ‘Rakhi’ in multiple sequences.
With production already complete, the movie was originally slated for a September 12 release. The extensive cuts now being demanded are expected to cause further delays and substantial financial losses. The filmmakers highlighted that wearing Muslim attire is a common practice, even at cultural festivals, underscoring its broad acceptance.
In their plea, filed earlier this month, the producers emphasized that approximately ₹15 crore had been invested in Haal, a film they assert “shows no sort of violence or cruelty.” They argued that while the movie may critique certain societal issues, it promotes no animosity or aggression. Furthermore, they advocated for a more streamlined two-stage censorship process: an initial review at the script stage, followed by a final assessment once the entire film is completed.