Kochi: Following rumours that one of the Malayalam film industry’s Big Ms, Mohanlal, is teaming with Major Ravi, a BJP leader and known for his obvious right-wing ideologies, for a movie based on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack, the superstar’s fans have been trending the hashtag #BoycottMajorRavi on social media. The fans intended to convey the message that if the unconfirmed news is true, they will purposefully skip the movie in theatres for the first time, according to a report by The Indian Express.
Major Ravi had taken it to social media, the announcement of his new project based on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor.
Major Rave, who debuted as a director with Mohanlal in Keerthi Chakra, and his subsequent productions revolved around the Army or defence personnel, was severely criticised for not maintaining a consistent level of quality filmmaking. His most criticised works were Kandahar, Karma Yodha, and 1971: Beyond Borders and all three featured Mohanal.
According to the TIE report, one of the main criticisms Mohanlal faces is that he apparently has a tendency to commit to his friend’s films despite substandard content as well as filmmaking quality.
However, the first and foremost reason fans are banging against Ravi is his stance during the L2:Empuraan controversy against its director, Prithiviraj Sukumaran. Major Ravi’s stance then is widely seen as a tactic to appease his political masters. Ravi had praised the film initially, but later took a complete U-turn after Hindutva groups started attacking the movie. Ravi, in his later stance, claimed that Mohanlal never watches the previews of his movie, and the controversial parts in Empuraan were added after the preview.
It is widely seen that, while attempting to maintain his good relationship with Mohanlal, Ravi used the Empuraan controversy for political leverage and knowingly made Prithviraj a scapegoat.
A Mohanlal fan wrote on X, “We are the ones who stayed together even when you were broken. I request you Laletta please leave this movie even though you remember us. I want to see more good films from you. Go find something new…not the old trash.”