Janaki V vs State Of Kerala X Review: What Audiences Are Saying About Suresh Gopi-Anupama Parameswaran Film
Janaki V v/s State of Kerala X Review: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala, also referred to as JSK, arrives in cinemas today after a delayed release caused by a legal dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Directed and written by Pravin Narayanan, the Malayalam legal drama features Suresh Gopi and Anupama Parameswaran in lead roles.
As Janaki V v/s State of Kerala opens today, public reactions are expected to surface online in the coming hours and over the weekend. Owing to the controversy surrounding its title and the presence of a well-known lead cast, especially Suresh Gopi, the film has already drawn attention. How audiences respond to the film's courtroom narrative and performances will likely become clear on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) as viewer comments begin to emerge. Check this space for X reviews.
A Look at the Film's Storyline, Key Cast, and Production Team
Produced by J. Phanindra Kumar under the Cosmos Entertainments banner, the film also involves Sethuraman Nair Kankol as co-producer, with Dream Big Films handling its marketing and distribution. The storyline follows Janaki, an IT professional from Bengaluru who visits her hometown in Kerala, only to become entangled in a traumatic incident that prompts her to seek justice through the courts. The case takes a turn when Advocate David Abel Donovan, portrayed by Suresh Gopi, enters the proceedings.
The supporting cast includes Divya Pillai, Sruthi Ramachandran, Askar Ali, Madhav Suresh Gopi, and Baiju Santhosh. The technical crew features Renadive as cinematographer and Samjith Mohammed as editor. The film's music has been composed by Gireesh Narayanan, while Ghibran has provided the background score. The soundtrack includes lyrics penned by Santhosh Varma, Jyothish Kassi, and Haritha Haribabu.
Initially the film was scheduled to release on June 27, 2025. However, the CBFC raised objections to the use of the name "Janaki" in the title and dialogue, citing sensitivities due to its association with the Hindu goddess Sita. This led to a delay in certification, and the producers approached the Kerala High Court for intervention.
The court ordered a special screening of the film for judicial review on July 5, with a follow-up hearing held on July 9. During the proceedings, an agreement was reached in which the filmmakers consented to muting the name 'Janaki' in two courtroom sequences and modifying the title to Janaki V v/s State of Kerala, reflecting the character's full name, Janaki Vidhyadharan. The CBFC subsequently granted certification, paving the way for the film's release.
Read more
