This week marks the OTT debut of Malayalee From India, the latest Malayalam film. However, did you know that Nivin Pauly’s movie was embroiled in a plagiarism controversy, a significant issue that impacted its release?
Malayalee From India, helmed by Dijo Jose Antony from India, faced allegations from writer Nishad Koya regarding plagiarism of his screenplay originally intended for a project directed by Joshiy. Jayasurya was set to portray the lead role in the project above. The accusation has ignited a heated debate, with both parties staunchly defending their stances. Nishad is recognized for his work in films such as Ordinary, Shikkari Shambhu, and Thoppil Jopan. Just a day before the theatrical release of Malayalee From India, Nishad took to Facebook to disclose the movie’s storyline, triggering a controversy. Despite Nishad’s claims, the cast and crew of the comedy-drama, including Nivin Pauly, Dijo, and Listin, refuted the allegations during the film’s promotional activities and a subsequent press conference.
Listin criticized the writer for his actions, stating that the movie had been well publicized in advance and that he should have taken his complaints to the appropriate authorities rather than resorting to social media. Actor Hareesh Peradi then intervened to defend screenwriter Nishad Koya, affirming that the latter had made the correct decision. He emphasized that only those who are confident that the truth has been manipulated would speak out, especially in the days leading up to the movie’s premiere. People who could not watch the film in theaters are looking forward to its digital release, even though it did not do well at the box office or in theaters. The movie, starring Nivin Pauly and Dhyan Sreenivasan, is currently available for streaming on SonyLIV from July 5. It is likely that the movie’s disappointing box office results and mixed reviews after its theatrical release caused the delay in its OTT release.
