The release of Malayalam actor Dileep's film 'Bha. Bha. Ba.' has plunged into a major controversy, with a specific scene drawing fierce backlash for its alleged insensitive reference to the actress abduction and assault case in which the actor was previously implicated. This film marks Dileep's first release since his acquittal in the high-profile case that shook Kerala.
The Scene That Ignited the Firestorm
According to widespread reports from viewers and social media users, the contentious scene features a character stating, "Annan kidnapped her and m**** her," followed by a dismissive, "Relax bro, she is a cow." Netizens have expressed deep anger, stating the dialogue makes a cruel and insensitive allusion to the real-life case and its survivor.
The outrage intensified because the narration is reportedly accompanied by a visual. As one Twitter user highlighted, "The problem gets worse because the narration is backed by a visual: Dileep literally arriving in a vehicle to kidnap a woman." This combination of audio and visual elements has been perceived as a direct and tasteless nod to the serious allegations Dileep faced.
Fierce Online Condemnation and Calls for Accountability
The reaction on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook has been swift and severe. One user condemned the scene, writing, "This is not a sick joke. This is inhumane. Ethically indefensible. Absolute abasement. Rot." Another pointedly criticized the intent, suggesting it was meant to "retraumatise" the survivor of the actual case.
Actors Dhyan Sreenivasan and Vineeth, who are part of the scene, have also been called out. A netizen questioned, "Dhyan Sreenivasan and Vineeth carry responsibility for performing and normalising the reference. Will they say bha bha bha or apologise?" The criticism, however, extends beyond the cast.
Many argue that accountability must be shared by the entire production team. A social media post explicitly named superstar Mohanlal, who is a producer on the film, along with every other producer, editor, and stakeholder who approved the scene. The post drew a comparison, noting, "Mohanlal and Gokulam Gopalan apologised and voluntarily cut scenes from 'Empuran' because it hurt the sentiments of a political party." This has led to questions about why similar sensitivity was not shown towards the survivor in this instance.
Defense and Wider Context
Some viewers have suggested that the controversial moment was intended as a spoof of a 'cow scene' from the older film 'Thenkasipattanam'. However, netizens have roundly rejected this justification, stating that using such a reference given the actor's recent legal history is deeply upsetting and demonstrates poor judgment.
This controversy casts a shadow over what was already a sensitive comeback for Dileep. The film's release was closely watched as his first project after being acquitted in the 2017 actress assault case. The online storm indicates that public sentiment remains highly charged regarding the case, and any perceived trivialization of it is met with immediate and powerful backlash.
