NAvigation of the cultural landscape these days is similar to pedaling a minefield. Obviously, the most harmless creative expressions can be thrown into the air to become heated controversies. Over the last week in Kerala, everything from the character named Janaki in the film to the dance performance of Zumba from the students of the school angered some or the second section. Religion becomes a common fiber passing by most of these controversies.
What is his name?
Although the Regional Office of the Central Council for Film Certification (CBFC) was cleaned by the film Janaki V/S State of Kerala, in which the Minister of Union Suesh Gopi, the CBFC headquarters in Mumbai demanded a change in the title and also the name of Janaki, who is for the SITA. The filmmakers said unofficial channels that surviving sexual violence cannot be named after a net. The creators of another film, the token number, were also forced to change the name of the character from Janaki to Jayanthi after the Council protested against the figure with this name, who had a relationship with a man named Abraham.
Given such arbitrary directives, it will probably be impossible to use the common name in the title of the film or for the character. These cases show the worrying tendency of CBFC to take over the duties of the “injured sentiment” group and the expansion of the scope of censorship. Kerala’s High Court pulled CBFC while the film bodies in Kerala are against the body in their arms.
Inquisition of moral values
While these two controversies were raging, joyful videos of schools of schools of all ages dancing together in Zumba classes filled the timelines of social media in the state. In this academic year, the Kerala government has launched Zumba sessions in schools and universities in its efforts to reduce stress and direct the interests and energy of students outside drugs for positive alternatives.
But even part of the unfortunate people did. Ultra conservative Islamic groups, including the Islamic organization of Wisdom and Sunnis, Yuvajana Sangham, Samastha Keral Jamiyathul Ulam, against the plan, denotes aerobic dance training as degradation of “moral values” and violations of Islamic religious values. Some clergy argued that students would be forced to wear “modest clothes” while doing Zumba, although students were seen to wear their school uniforms in all social media videos.
Such opposition to relaxation exercises revealed misogynia of spiritual and also their concerns about the sex interval. Some of these Islamic organizations in the past, in the past, have come to the government’s decision in schools and got rid of separate benches for girls and boys.
The government of the Democratic Front (LDF) refused to refuse to retreat to its plan Zumba. General Minister of Education V. Sivankutty said that the stand interested in these groups will only help to support the majority community. CPI Secretary General (M) Ma Baby, who, as the Minister of Education, faced a controversy over a rationalist lesson in the textbook, said religious organizations can comment on educational issues but cannot dictate terms.
Interestingly, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, Sangh Parivar Think Tank, also criticized the state government for supporting “foreign practices” such as Zumba. He claimed that the government’s agenda should go to yoga coaches.
In addition to the cultural sphere, campaigns of Orthodox Islamic groups had terrible consequences. Two days ago, his one -year -old child died of jaundice in Malappuram after his parents, both practicing alternative medicine, allegedly denied vaccination and treatment. They also buried the child under mysterious circumstances.
Worrying trend
In Kerala, the number of fundamentalist voices from different sides of the religious spectrum increases. Their narrow dictations on creative expressions and questions that are outside the limits of their understanding of religion are not written for a state that is proud of its general progressive secular view. Government and civil society must succeed with all strength to isolate such intolerant voices.
Published – 1 July 2025 01:28
