'The film is ridiculing, insulting and humiliating Hindu religion, in particular portraying Hindu Gods in a poor light'.

Taking umbrage at what it decided are “vulgar and offensive scenes,” the Central Board of Film Certification has refused to certify the public screening of Malayalam film Ka Bodyscapes, produced and directed by New York-based filmmaker Jayan Cherian.

In a rejection letter sent to the filmmaker, A. Prathibha, regional officer of the CBFC in Thiruvananthapuram, wrote: “The revising committee felt that the entire content of the Malayalam feature film Ka Bodyscapes is ridiculing, insulting and humiliating Hindu religion, in particular portraying Hindu Gods in a poor light. Derogatory words are used against women.

“The Hindu God ‘Hanuman’ is shown as coming in the books titled ‘ I am Gay’ and other homosexual books. The film offends human sensibilities by vulgarity, obscenity and depravity…,” the letter said.

The CBFC regional office had earlier referred the film, woven around a gay love story, to the review committee. It transferred the review screening to Chennai and postponed it on the eve of the screening scheduled for July 5. Finally, as the filmmaker accused the board of dragging its feet on certifying the film, the committee watched it on July 15. Mr. Cherian, who had a run-in with the board while seeking certification for his maiden feature film Papilio Buddha, accused the board of suffering from homophobia. “Their basic attitude towards the idea of same sex love is that it’s vulgar and obscene,” he said, adding he would move the Kerala High Court for relief.

In a landmark judgment, the Kerala High Court earlier this year asked the CBFC to certify in 15 days the film Chayam Poosiya Veedu (The Painted House).