Malayalam Chalachitra Academy Chairman Premkumar has responded to the backlash over his recent remarks about Malayalam TV serials, which sparked a heated debate. Premkumar stated that he respects everyone’s freedom of expression and holds no intolerance towards differing opinions.
Premkumar’s suggestion that Malayalam serials require censorship ignited controversy, with many from the television industry criticizing his comments.“Freedom of expression is a constitutional right,” Premkumar said. “We live in a country that upholds creative and opinionated freedom. Just as I have the right to express my personal opinion, others have the right to express theirs. I welcome that and hold no intolerance toward it. I do not feel the need to respond to any of them.”
Premkumar’s earlier comment likening serials to “endosulfan” had particularly drawn criticism. Speaking to the media, he emphasized that cinema, TV serials, and web series cater to a large audience and need to be mindful of their influence. “I am not condemning all serials, but there are practical issues with TV serials. Cinema has censorship, but television serials don’t. This is something we need to consider,” he had said.
Backlash from the Industry
Actor and comedian Dharmajan Bolgatty was one of the first to criticize Premkumar’s remarks. “I have written three mega-serials, and I am proud of it. Premkumar himself is someone who started his career through serials. Just because he has a position now doesn’t mean he should forget that. Let people earn their living in peace,” Dharmajan wrote on social media.
Actors Seema G Nair and Harish Peradi also joined the criticism. Harish pointed out the disrespect in calling serials “endosulfan,” reminding Premkumar of his own journey through serials before gaining prominence in cinema.
As the debate continues, the controversy has brought to light the underlying tensions between the TV and film industries. Whether Premkumar’s remarks lead to actionable changes or further disputes remains to be seen.
