Mammootty gets backing from across Kerala’s political spectrum on backlash over two-year-old film

A controversy erupted after Sharshad Baniyandi, husband of Ratheena P T, the director of the movie, told an online media channel a few days back that “the movie had insulted the upper caste community”.

Sharshad questioned why Mammootty took up the project and doubted if he had read the script. He also alleged that one of the scriptwriters Harshad was an “extreme Islamist”.

Expressing support for Mammooty, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, in a post on Facebook, said that Mammootty cannot be confined to the compartments of a religion or caste, adding that vested interests are doing so with a clear political agenda.

Those attacking the national award-winning actor on social media even used Mammootty’s birth name, Muhammed Kutty, to criticise him in connection with the film.

“Mammootty is being Mohammed Kutty only in the contemptuous minds of those hate campaigners,” he said. Kerala’s secular society will not support this propaganda, he said, adding that Kerala should take care of the actor and give him cover from the hate campaign.

Education Minister V Sivankutty put up a Facebook post sharing a photo of him with the actor, with a caption “Mammootty is Malayalees’ pride”.

Revenue Minister K Fajan said, “the Sangh Parivar politics, which dubs Mammootty as Muhammed Kutty, director Kamal as Kamaludheen and actor Vijay as Vijay Joseph will not work in Kerala”.

KPCC president and Congress MP K Sudhakaran said attacking Mammootty in the name of religion will “shame Kerala before the world”.

Kerala Hindu Aikya Vedi spokesperson R V Babu said that Mammootty is loved by everyone. “The person who raised the allegation against Mammooty is a Leftist. Mammooty is also pursuing the same political line. Both belong to the same religion. People of Kerala have the right to know the truth behind the allegation that Mammooty had backed the attempt to create Hinduphobia. He should react to this issue,” said Babu.