'Sita' reference in latest Senna Hegde film 'Avihitham' objected by CBFC, fuelling fresh controversy

The ongoing tussle between the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Malayalam film industry appears far from over, with the latest controversy surrounding Avihitham, directed by Senna Hegde. Reports suggest that the Board has asked the filmmakers to remove a dialogue in which the heroine is referred to as “Sita.” The censored line begins with “Neeyum ninte Sitayum thammilulla…” (“Between you and your Sita…”).

The directive has once again sparked debate among the public, with opinions sharply divided. Avihitham, which released on October 10, features an ensemble cast including Unni Raj, Renji Kankol, Vineeth Chakyar, Vrinda Menon, and Ammini Chandralayam.

This is the latest in a series of CBFC interventions in Malayalam cinema. Recently, Shane Nigam’s Haal faced 15 mandated changes, including the removal of phrases such as “beef biryani,” which delayed its release. A few months ago, superstar Suresh Gopi’s film JSK—he is also a Union Minister—received clearance only after its title was changed to Janaki V v/s State of Kerala, following objections to the protagonist’s name. Similarly, Indrans’ film Private faced nine modifications over alleged promotion of left-leaning ideas before release.

The repeated interventions have raised concerns in the industry about creative freedom, with filmmakers and associations calling for more consistent and transparent guidelines from the Board. (With inputs from Agencies)