Janaki VS State of Kerala: MB Padmakumar Slams Sibi Malayil Over ‘Small Film' Remark

News18

02-07-2025

According to the director, the matter was resolved quietly because the film was a 'small film" aimed at festivals. Padmakumar, deeply offended by the remarks, responded emotionally via a video titled 'Just kill me, Mr Sibi Malayil" posted on his YouTube channel. He accused the veteran director of belittling his work and negatively impacting his film's release.
'Who told Sibi Malayil sir that my film is a 'small film' or an 'award film'? If there are no superstars or if it's not a big-budget film, it automatically becomes a small film, is that it? And the audience shouldn't see it, sir?" Padmakumar said in the video.
The filmmaker also criticised the CBFC for what he described as a prejudiced decision-making process. 'Isn't this exactly what the Censor Board also did? Didn't they approach it with prejudice without even watching the film? Do you know something, sir? This is a film I made by toiling for the last seven months, sacrificing my food and sleep," he said.
He further alleged that Sibi's comments had caused a distributor, who had initially agreed to release the film, to withdraw support and snatch their chance at a theatrical release. He was heard saying, 'After all was done, I finally got the film censored. I got it done, feeling defeated and scared. After that, it had to reach theatres, but it had no superstars. Without superstars, it's incredibly difficult to get a theatre screen, no distributor comes forward."
'With great difficulty and by paying from my own pocket, I had arranged for a person to distribute it. But do you know what the distributor told me after hearing your comment? He called me and said, 'You told that this was a big film. But now Sibi Malayil himself has said it's a small film. I am not investing in an award film.' Sir, you have thrown sand in my rice bowl," Padmakumar added.