Basil Joseph’s upcoming dark comedy thriller ‘Maranamass’, directed by debutant Sivaprasad and co-produced by Tovino Thomas, has hit a roadblock in the Gulf region.
Why banned?According to the Indian Express, the film has reportedly been banned in Saudi Arabia due to the inclusion of a queer actor in its cast. Additionally, the movie’s release in Kuwait has only been cleared after scenes featuring the actor were edited out, as per the demands of local censors.
Wanted to normalise LGBTQIA+ in the societyDirector Sivaprasad addressed the controversy in a recent interview with The News Minute emphasizing that the actor’s gender identity had no bearing on their casting decisions. The director said that they did not look at the gender of the actors before casting them and also wanted to normalise LGBTQIA+ in the society,
Makers issue a statementThe makers of Maranamass stated to inform Kuwaiti audiences that the film had undergone edits to comply with censorship laws. “To those watching Maranamass in Kuwait, a few scenes from the first and second halves of the film had to be removed due to censorship laws. We hope this won’t detract from your overall enjoyment of the movie,” the team noted.
Starring Basil Joseph alongside Rajesh Madhavan, Siju Sunny, Babu Antony, Anishma Anilkumar, and Suresh Krishna, Maranamass features cinematography by Neeraj Revi, editing by Chaman Chacko, and music by JK. Despite the censorship hurdles, anticipation remains high for the film’s domestic and international release.
Basil Joseph’s work frontBasil Joseph is currently in the peak time of his career as the majority of his recent releases turned out to be superhits. His previous outing was the intense drama movie ‘Ponman’ which was a hit and also received good reviews from the audiences.
Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the
latest Hindi movies,
upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and
Telugu movies.”
The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of jou...
Read MoreThe TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment