The Kerala High Court on Saturday (October 25, 2025) watched the Malayalam film Haal which is at the centre of a litigation over alleged censoring.

Justice V.G. Arun watched the film, directed by Muhammed Rafeeq (Veera) and starring Shane Nigam, at a private studio at Kakkanad in Kochi in the evening.

Representatives of the Catholic Congress, which was recently allowed by the High court to implead itself in a petition filed by the makers of the film, also attended the private screening.

The makers of the film moved the High Court expressing concern at the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) revision committee seeking the removal of half-a-dozen scenes from the movie.

The film’s director and producer had contented that many of the scenes that the CBFC demanded to be deleted were critical to the film’s theme. The scenes included one depicting consumption of beef biriyani and another one on heroine using Muslim religious attire. The CBFC also sought blurring of ‘rakhi’ in multiple scenes.

The Catholic Congress was allowed to implead itself in the petition as it claimed in an affidavit that the film portrays the Thamarassery Bishop as a supporter of ‘love jihad.’ The forum said the alleged portrayal of the bishop hurts the religious sentiments of the Christian community, and could disturb peace in society.

The upcoming movie, whose production works are over, was scheduled to be released on September 12. The demand to remove multiple scenes would further delay its release and cause financial loss, the filmmakers said.

Stating that almost ₹15 crore was spent for the film’s production, they had submitted before the court earlier this month that a few social evils might have been criticised and nothing in the movie promoted any kind of enmity or violence. The case has been posted for hearing on October 30.

Published – October 25, 2025 08:01 pm IST