Kerala HC Questions Objections On Shane Nigam's Haal, Reserves Judgment On CBFC Appeals

The Kerala High Court on Monday, December 8, 2025, reserved its verdict on multiple appeals challenging the single judge’s decision to set aside the ‘A’ certificate granted to the Malayalam film Haal.

The appeals, filed by the Centre, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and the Catholic Congress, were heard together by a division bench comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice PV Balakrishnan.

During the proceedings, counsel for the Catholic Congress argued that the film contained scenes depicting “forceful religious conversion” and objected to what he described as the portrayal of Love Jihad. He said, “Their (producer) submission is that this a love story. My contention is that love story…in the background of Love jihad…misrepresentation of inter-faith relationship commonly referred to as Love Jihad…negatively stereotyping Muslim and Christian community…undermining Christian religious practices by favouring one narrative…using cinematic tools, dialogues and music to promote one sided propaganda and manipulate audiences.” He added that the story could have progressed without referencing Love Jihad.

The Bench questioned the validity of these objections, noting, “Where is question of love jihad in the entire movie?… it is just like a love story… ultimately girl’s father also says he was wrong. Initially there is resistance always because people feel girl and boy should marry in the same religion. But after some time…even the girl’s father realizes he made a mistake. After all nothing is going to happen if they chose to marry each other.”

Two separate appeals were filed, one by the Catholic Congress and another by the Centre, contesting the single judge’s order that quashed the ‘A’ certification and six cuts recommended for Haal, which stars Shane Nigam. The Revising Committee had suggested trimming scenes including a beef biriyani sequence, a song in which the heroine uses Muslim attire to conceal her identity, and portions portraying police in a negative light. The film’s director and producer challenged these recommended cuts in the High Court.

The single judge had ruled in favour of the filmmakers, striking down both the certification and the proposed cuts, noting that the film adhered to constitutional principles and directing the CBFC to reconsider its certification.

In its appeal, the Catholic Congress also argued that the film wrongly depicted the Bishop of Thamarassery as supporting inter-faith marriages, contrary to his public stance. They objected to exterior shots of the Bishop’s residence and requested that the quashing of excisions 2 to 4 be overturned. The Centre, meanwhile, contended that the writ petition was not maintainable and should not have been entertained.

Earlier, the division bench had announced it would screen Haal before delivering its judgment and warned that costs could be imposed if the film was found free of objectionable content. With arguments now concluded, the High Court has reserved its verdict, leaving the final certification and any mandated edits pending.