Actress Anupama Parameswaran has responded to the controversy surrounding her film Janaki V/s State of Kerala, stating that significant changes were made to the movie without her prior knowledge. She spoke during an interview while promoting her upcoming film Paradha.
Anupama clarified that the controversy stemmed from the use of the name ‘Janaki’ for the lead character and the film’s title. She emphasized that she does not oppose the use of the name itself but objects to any misrepresentation of the deity Janaki. “Many people have names linked to gods and goddesses. My father’s name is Parameswaran, another name for Lord Shiva. He would not take offense. The concern should be with how the deity is portrayed, not with the use of the name in the film or character,” she explained.
She further revealed that she agreed to the role based on the initial script but was unaware of later alterations. “I had told the team that I would not promote the film without seeing the final version because I need to know what I am endorsing. This kind of change during production is common, and sometimes it leads to criticism regarding the film’s quality,” she added.
The film had earlier faced scrutiny from the censor board but was released theatrically on July 17. It is set to stream on OTT platform ZEE5 starting August 15.
Anupama also shared a behind-the-scenes incident from the shooting of Paradha, directed by Praveen Kandregula. “During a scene on a bridge where I had to fall, I experienced severe abdominal pain and actually fell due to discomfort. The crew thought I was just acting well, unaware of my condition. I was later taken to the hospital,” she recounted. Paradha is scheduled for release on August 22.
