Archive · 15 Nov 2025
Kerala HC Orders CBFC to Re-certify Film 'Haal', Citing 'Ordinary Person's Viewpoint'
Imagine a movie got in trouble because some people thought it was too much.
A judge at the Kerala High Court watched the movie 'Haal' and said that when deciding if a movie is okay, we should think like a regular person, not someone who gets upset very easily.
The movie had some scenes and words the movie checkers (called CBFC) wanted changed.
These included things like eating a certain type of food, some religious words, and a scene with a Christian girl wearing Muslim clothes.
The judge said these things are fine and part of telling a story.
He also said the movie's main idea is good and fits with the important rules of the country.
So, the judge told the movie checkers to watch it again and give it a proper 'okay' sign within two weeks.
Kerala High Court ordered the CBFC to re-certify the film 'Haal' within two weeks.
The court stated films should be judged by an 'ordinary man of commonsense and prudence,' not a hypersensitive one.
The CBFC had previously demanded six modifications, including scenes related to beef biryani and specific dialogues.
Filmmakers had already voluntarily made deletions concerning court scenes, beef biryani, and certain dialogues/salutations.
The court found the film's theme aligned with constitutional principles and that its content fell within artistic freedom.
- Who
- The Kerala High Court and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
- What
- The Kerala High Court directed the CBFC to re-certify the film 'Haal', ruling that films should be judged from the perspective of an ordinary person.
- When
- Friday (implicit from the article's present tense reference)
- Where
- Kerala High Court
- Why
- The court found the CBFC's demands for modifications and deletions to be based on an overly sensitive interpretation, rather than that of a common person, and that the film's theme aligns with constitutional principles.
Filmmakers' Stance
CBFC's Stance
Standard for Judging Films
Filmmakers' Stance
Films should be judged from the perspective of an ordinary person with common sense and prudence, not a hypersensitive individual.
CBFC's Stance
The board focused on whether the film would offend oversensitive individuals, leading to demands for modifications.
Content Concerns
Filmmakers' Stance
Scenes involving beef biryani, court proceedings, specific religious salutations ('dhwaj pranamam'), place name suggestions ('Ganapati Vattam'), and internal enemy dialogues are acceptable artistic expression or do not misrepresent inter-faith relationships.
CBFC's Stance
The CBFC demanded modifications and deletions, including a scene with a Christian girl in Muslim attire, and dialogues potentially related to RSS and BJP suggestions, viewing them as indecent, immoral, or inciting violence.
Artistic Freedom vs. Restrictions
Filmmakers' Stance
Artistic freedom, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a), allows for depictions like a Christian girl in Muslim attire or interrogation scenes with schoolboys, and dialogues of a Bishop.
CBFC's Stance
The CBFC's role is to balance freedom of speech with reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2).
- Film Title
- Haal
- Court
- Kerala High Court
- Directed To
- Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
- Deadline for Certification
- Within two weeks of resubmission
- Number of Original Modifications Demanded
- Six
- Starring Actor
- Shane Nigam