Malayalam Film 'Haal' Faces Legal Hurdles Over Controversial Portrayal

On October 22nd, 2025, the highly anticipated Malayalam film 'Haal' starring Shane Nigam found itself embroiled in legal challenges. The film, directed by Muhammed Rafeeq (Veera), has faced objections from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and religious groups in Kerala.

In response, the director and the producer have petitioned the Kerala High Court, which has now scheduled a special screening of the film for Justice V.G. Arun on October 25th in Kakkanad. The controversy surrounding 'Haal' centers on alleged controversial portrayals of the Bishop of Thamarassery, a topic that could potentially offend religious sentiments. Consequently, the High Court has also requested the intervention of the Catholic Congress amidst the legal challenges to the multi-lingual film's release.

'Haal' is a musical romance that explores the relationship between two young lovers, played by Shane Nigam and Sakshi Vaidya, whose contrasting social backgrounds and societal barriers threaten to tear them apart. The film's soulful soundtrack, composed by Nandhagopan V., aims to capture the emotional depth of their struggle. Supporting roles are played by actors including Johny Antony, Madhupal, and Joy Mathew. The movie is planned for release across Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada languages.