Malayalam film Manjummel Boys, written and directed by Chidambaram, was released on the big screens on February 22 and garnered positive reviews from critics and viewers. Tamil writer B Jeyamohan, however, criticised the film in a blog titled Manjummal Boys- Kudikara Porukikalin Koothattam and described it as a reflection of “wayward” Malayalis and “a frenzy of drunken porukkis (loafers)”. This has prompted many to see it as part of Sangh Parivar’s campaign to tarnish the image of Kerala.
Now, G Suresh Kumar, former president of Kerala Film Chamber and a producer, has also criticised Jeyamohan. G Suresh Kumar is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state committee. In an interaction with the online portal Malayalam Manorama, he disagreed with B Jeyamohan’s opinions and said that Sangh Parivar does not share his views.
Kumar also questioned the fact that whether B Jeyamohan would put these opinions about Tamil cinema. According to him, Jeyamohan would be hanged if he dared to say these words regarding the Tamil cinema. Kumar also said that Jeyamohan has only worked in a couple of Malayalam films and has no right to criticise Malayalam cinema.
B Jeyamohan has used several demeaning words for the people of Kerala in his blog and alleged that Malayali youths discard liquor bottles “as portrayed in the film”. His words read, “Broken or unbroken bottles can be found all along the Sengottai-Kuttralam and Gudalur-Ooty roads. The vehicles of these drunkards bear stains of vomit on both sides.”
Some of the social media users are viewing these derogatory comments as part of the larger anti-Kerala campaign by the Sangh Parivar that had earlier leveraged the Bollywood film The Kerala Story. This film alleged that the Muslim youths lured non-Muslim girls to become “Jihadi brides” which was termed factually incorrect by many people. Sangh Parivar is an umbrella of Hindutva groups led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a paramilitary organisation based in India.
Coming back to Manjummel Boys, the film stars Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese and others. Parava Films has bankrolled Manjummel Boys. This film is currently in its third week and is treading towards the Rs 100 crore mark in India.
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