Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has called for greater introspection in the film industry, urging that movie narratives must align with a strong moral conscience. Speaking at the state’s film conclave, officials stressed the importance of a broader and more responsible approach to film content, calling for structured consultations involving the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, filmmakers, writers, psychologists, and mental health experts.

As part of the proposal, the government highlighted the need for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to include experts in psychology, gender studies, and Dalit and marginalised community issues to ensure a wider and more inclusive perspective during certification.

In a significant step towards transparency, the government also proposed mandatory disclosure of paid influencer marketing campaigns tied to film releases. If sponsored content is part of the marketing strategy, it must be clearly declared. Additionally, an expedited arbitration panel has been recommended to handle unethical marketing practices, misleading advertisements, and related complaints.

The need for legal ways to tackle ‘review bombing’ was also stressed upon.

Veteran lyricist and poet Sreekumaran Thampi raised a critical question during the discussion, asking: “What happened to the Justice Hema Committee report?” The committee, which investigated issues such as sexual harassment and other discrimination in the Malayalam film industry, submitted recommendations to the government, but Thampi questioned the lack of follow-through. He wondered why the complainants ultimately chose to withdraw it.

Calls were made to avoid the glorification of caste misuse and to curb moral violations in cinema, urging clearer ethical boundaries in content representation.

The government document also expressed concern over practices such as "review bombing" — where organised efforts are made to tarnish a film’s reputation through fake or negative reviews. It recommended that producers, distributors, and exhibitors jointly establish fair marketing codes. This includes curbing deceptive trailers, paid promotions disguised as genuine content, and the cancellation of scheduled screenings as a form of sabotage.

The conclave also witnessed a heated exchange on film education, with cinema icon Adoor Gopalakrishnan suggesting that filmmaking should require formal training. However, Sreekumaran Thampi disagreed, citing his own experience of producing 26 films without formal academic training in cinema.

The event was chaired by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal and attended by Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian, writer Soorya Krishnamoorthy, Chalachitra Academy Chairman Prem Kumar, Secretary Ajoy Chandran, KSFDC Chairman K. Madhu, Managing Director Priyadarsanan, Kerala State Cultural Welfare Fund Board Madhupal, actors Padmapriya and Nikhila Vimal, producer Santosh T. Kuruvilla, Culture Department Additional Chief Secretary Rajan N. Khobragade, and Director Divya S. Iyer, among others.

The conclave concluded with a call for regulatory frameworks that ensure ethical filmmaking, transparent promotion, and meaningful narratives that respect societal values.