Mother's Outcry Over Targeted Online Attacks
Veteran actor Mallika Sukumaran has publicly voiced her strong discontent, alleging that powerful factions within the Malayalam film industry are consciously attempting to destroy the career of her son, actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran. This accusation comes amidst a severe wave of coordinated cyberattacks that have targeted both the actor and his latest cinematic release, Vilayath Buddha.
Silence of Film Organizations Condemned
Expressing her deep disappointment, Mallika Sukumaran specifically called out film organisations for their deafening silence during this crisis. While she did not name it directly, her comments were clearly aimed at the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). She questioned the lack of support for her son, contrasting it with the association's stance in other similar situations.
"When attacks against Prithviraj occur, there aren’t many organisations or people willing to speak up," she revealed in an interview with Manorama Online. She demanded that the industry body stand firmly by its members during such challenging times and maintain consistent principles, rather than applying different standards to different cases.
Underlying Tensions and a Stern Warning
Mallika Sukumaran hinted at deeper industry politics, suggesting that the backlash might be linked to the casting of Shammi Thilakan, the son of late legendary actor Thilakan, in a key role in Vilayath Buddha. Shammi Thilakan had previously been ousted from AMMA, and his comeback in Prithviraj's film has reportedly upset certain quarters.
She issued a stern warning to those behind the attacks, stating she has collected evidence. "There’s an attempt to destroy Prithviraj, the actor. People within the film industry itself are trying to do this," she alleged. She added that if the attacks persist, she is prepared to make necessary revelations with proof at the appropriate time, confident that these attempts will ultimately not harm her son's career.
This controversy follows the earlier L2: Empuraan issue and comes days after the producer of Vilayath Buddha filed an official police complaint (FIR) against a YouTube channel. The channel was accused of misrepresenting the film's content and promoting narratives that could provoke communal tensions, which the producers label as cyberterrorism that has hurt the film's box-office performance since its release on November 21, 2025.
