Kamal as Pinrayi - Balchandra Menon as Oomen Chandy / Beef Biryani cut out in Shane film

Shane Nigam’s much-anticipated film 'Soul of Haal' has run into a censorship crisis, with the Censor Board instructing the filmmakers to remove a scene featuring beef biryani and dialogues related to a ceremonial salute. In response, the film’s production team has approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the board’s directive. The board’s objections include the dialogue “Dhwaja Pranama, the team is on guard” and a scene depicting the consumption of beef biryani. These instructions have delayed the issuance of the censor certificate, putting the film’s release on hold. Filmmakers argue that these cuts compromise the narrative and have sought judicial intervention to resolve the issue. Directed by debutant Veer, 'Haal' was originally scheduled to release on September 12, but the date was subsequently postponed.Haal is written by Nishad K. Koya, who is known for scripting Ordinary, Thoppil Joppan, Shikari Shambu and Madhura Naranga. The film, one of the biggest budget projects in Shane Nigam’s career, features Sakshi Vaidya in the female lead role. Sakshi amade her debut with Akhil in Agent with Mammooty in a pivotal role, She also signeda Pawan Kalyan film.

The supporting cast boasts seasoned actors such as Johnny Antony, Nath, Vineeth Beep Kumar, K. Madhupal, Sangeetha Madhavan Nair, Joy Mathew, Nishant Sagar, Niyas Becker, Riyas Narmakala, Suresh Krishna, Ravindran, Sohan Seenulal, Manoj K.U., Unniraj, and Sreedhanya, promising a strong ensemble performance. 'Haal' is slated for a simultaneous release in Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada, positioning it as a colorful, multi-lingual entertainer. In addition, the film marks Bollywood singer Ankith Tiwari’s Malayalam cinema debut. The censorship row highlights the ongoing tension between creative freedom and regulatory oversight, with filmmakers urging the court to allow the film to be released without compromising its content. The High Court’s decision is eagerly awaited by fans and industry watchers alike, who have been anticipating Shane Nigam’s latest performance. As the legal proceedings unfold, the film’s release remains in limbo, intensifying anticipation for one of Malayalam cinema’s most talked-about projects of the year. --IANS

Balachandra Menon is expected to play Oommen Chandy, Nivin Pauly is likely to be cast as Chandy Oommen—the late Congress leader’s son and incumbent MLA representing Puthuppally.Noted director B. Unnikrishnan, who last worked with Mammootty in 'Christopher', is said to be at the helm of the project. According to a report by Manorama News, the film will not be presented as a biopic of Oommen Chandy, who is rated among the most popular politicians in Kerala’s history. Among the details expected to be included in the movie are the various corruption allegations that led to political uproar in the state. Earlier, there were reports that Unnikrishnan was shooting the Secretariat blockade protest organised by the CPI(M)-led LDF workers in 2013. The Opposition workers had surrounded the Kerala Secretariat in August 2013 as a part of the protest against the solar scam—a major political controversy of the time when Oommen Chandy was in power. The longest-serving member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Oommen Chandy passed away in 2023 and his son Chandy Oommen became the new MLA of Puthuppally. Nivin Pauly is expected to portray the 39-year-old's role in the movie. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and veteran actor Kamal Haasan is reportedly getting ready for a Mollywood return by being part of a rumoured biopic of incumbent Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Manorama News report said. The way his leadership dealt with the deluge of 2018 and the Covid pandemic will be shown in the movie. A younger Vijayan’s interventions during the 1971 Thalassery riots is also expected to find a place in the film. However, it was not exactly known if Haasan will be seen as Pinarayi Vijayan in the movie which is also expected to release before the southern state goes to polling booths next year. Report in The Week News Desk