The Kerala High Court has scheduled a special screening of the Malayalam film Haal on October 25, 2025, at 7 PM to determine whether the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was justified in withholding certification due to controversial content. The decision follows a petition by producer Juby Thomas and director Muhammed Rafeeq (Veera), challenging the CBFC’s directive to delete scenes allegedly promoting ‘Love Jihad’ and depicting the Thamarassery Bishop in an objectionable manner. The film, written by Nishad Koya and starring Shane Nigam, Sakshi Vaidya, and Johny Antony, has sparked significant debate.

The Catholic Congress, which intervened in the case, raised objections to Haal, arguing that it contains references to the Thamarassery Bishop House and portrays the Bishop without the Diocese’s consent. The organization claims the film’s depiction of the Bishop as supportive of ‘Love Jihad’—a term associated with alleged forced religious conversions through romantic relationships—could offend Christian sentiments and disrupt communal harmony. These concerns prompted the CBFC to recommend cuts, including a scene involving the serving of beef biryani, which it deemed sensitive.

Justice VG Arun, presiding over the case, ordered the screening to allow the court, along with representatives of the Catholic Congress and their counsel, to assess the film’s content firsthand. The petitioners have been directed to confirm the venue for the viewing. This judicial review underscores the delicate balance between artistic expression and cultural sensitivities, with the court’s findings likely to influence the film’s fate.

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The CBFC’s refusal to certify Haal in its current form has intensified scrutiny of its content, raising questions about censorship and freedom of expression in Indian cinema. The court has scheduled further proceedings for October 30, 2025, to deliberate on the matter. As the screening date approaches, Haal remains at the center of a heated controversy, with its outcome potentially setting a precedent for handling sensitive themes in filmmaking.

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