Kochi: The new romantic musical “Haal,” starring Shane Nigam, has been thrust into a major controversy, facing legal action from the Catholic Congress over its depiction of a bishop and significant cuts from the Censor Board targeting scenes allegedly referencing right-wing Hindu organizations.
The Catholic Congress has taken its objections to court, citing a scene where a character representing a Thamarassery Bishop gives his blessing to an interfaith couple—a Muslim man and a Christian woman. In the scene, the bishop advises the pair to live together harmoniously while continuing to practice their individual faiths. The organization argues this portrayal tarnishes the bishop’s reputation and misrepresents the Church’s established, public stance against what it terms “Love Jihad.”
Adding to the film’s troubles, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly ordered the removal of several words and scenes. According to sources, phrases like “Dhvaja Pranamam” (flag salute) and “Sangham Kavalund” (the Sangham is watching) have been excised, along with references to “internal enemies” and a scene depicting characters eating beef biryani.
Despite the controversies, “Haal” is a highly anticipated project from JVJ Productions. The film marks the Malayalam debut of actress Sakshi Vaidya opposite lead actor Shane Nigam. Directed by Veeraa and written by Nishad K. Koya, the film also features a strong supporting cast including Johny Antony, Joy Mathew, Nishant Sagar, and Suresh Krishna.
Notably, the film features the Malayalam singing debut of renowned Pakistani singer Atif Aslam, with music composed by Nandhagopan V. The technical crew includes Ravichandran for cinematography and Akash Joseph Varghese as the editor.
The dual challenges from a religious organization and the Censor Board have placed the filmmakers in a difficult position, leaving the film’s narrative and release in a state of uncertainty as the case proceeds in court.
