The Suresh Gopi-Anupama Parameswaran starrer legal drama JSK: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala is set for its digital premiere on ZEE5 on August 15, the streamer announced. The film was released in theatres on July 17 following a prolonged controversy.
Originally titled JSK: Janaki v/s State of Kerala, the film ran into trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which objected to the use of the name 'Janaki' for a rape survivor, citing its association with the goddess Sita and concerns over offending religious sentiments. The CBFC initially refused to clear the film, recommending multiple cuts. The producers eventually agreed to change the title and mute the name 'Janaki' in two scenes to obtain certification.
JSK follows the story of a sexual assault survivor’s pursuit of justice through the courts. The film also features Suresh Gopi’s younger son, Madhav Suresh, along with Shruti Ramachandran, Divya Pillai, Askar Ali, Baiju Santhosh, Kottayam Ramesh and Shoby Thilakan. On the technical front, it has cinematography by Renadive, editing by Samjith Mohamed and music composed by Ghibran.
An excerpt from the CE review of JSK reads: "Ironically, in a film seemingly centred on Janaki, a woman seeking justice after a traumatic assault, her voice is often drowned out by the grandstanding of men around her. JSK: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala positions itself as a socially conscious legal drama, but what unfolds is a muddled film that seems more invested in delivering rousing speeches than delving into the emotional truth of its protagonist."
