Director Kamal has said that "those in the Censor Board today are showing more loyalty than the king. The administration has taken a stance that is frightening everyone." He also said that a similar situation occurred during the Emergency. Kamal was speaking at a protest held by various film organisations at the headquarters of the Censor Board's regional centre the other day.

The Censor Board had given permission to screen a film criticising Sanjay Gandhi. When the government opposed it, the Censor Board had taken the position that it was only responsible for giving certification based on the quality and that it was not going to cut the film. The Censor Board members replied that artists have the right to criticise the government. Kamal said that if Kanchana Seetha and Nirmalyam had been screened today, the situation would have been different.

Sibi Malayil said that such a protest was organised to prevent encroachment on freedom of expression and that protests should spread among filmmakers all over India. FEFKA General Secretary B Unnikrishnan commented that all the scissors that do not respect the freedom of the artist should go to the dustbin. He also said that he doubts whether he will be able to direct a film under the name Unnikrishnan anymore.

The protesters said that the protest was not for a film but a resistance against those who interpret the rules irrationally. Kamal, Shaji Kailas, Maniyanpilla Raju, M Ranjith, Jayan Cherthala, Indrans, Baburaj, Shobi Thilakan, Tini Tom, Vinu Mohan, Benny P Nayarambalam, Ansiba, Sarayu, Kukku Parameswaran, Vidhu Vincent, Maya Viswanath, Jeeja Surendran, Usha, P Sreekumar, Poojappura Radhakrishnan, Yadu Krishnan and many other film workers joined the protest. The day-long protest was organised by the Kerala Film Producers Association, AMMA, and FEFKA.