Malayalam Film 'Haal' Faces Censorship Controversy Over Religious Depictions

As of 2025-10-09T14:15:30+00:00, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has asked the makers of the Malayalam film 'Haal', starring Shane Nigam, to remove certain scenes and dialogues from the movie. The CBFC's Revising Committee, while granting the film an 'A' certificate, flagged portions involving religion and culture, stating that the film was not suitable for unrestricted public viewing.

The filmmakers have subsequently approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the board's directive. According to the report, the CBFC instructed the removal of scenes showing beef biryani being consumed and dialogues referencing 'dhwaj pranam', claiming these could hurt religious sentiments. The board stated that these modifications were mandatory for the film's release, a move the filmmakers have called "unjustified and excessive".

Director Prasanth Vijayakumar expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that the film has no violence and is a family entertainer. He added that even after making the suggested cuts, 'Haal' would still only qualify for an adult certificate, questioning the board's rationale.

'Haal' stands out as one of the most ambitious projects of Shane Nigam's career, marking his return as a romantic lead after 'Little Hearts'. The film features Sakshi Vaidya as the female lead, alongside Johny Antony, Nishanth Sagar, Madhupal, and Joy Mathew in pivotal roles. It also brings an exciting first for fans, as singer Atif Aslam lends his voice to a Malayalam film for the first time.