Case Filed Against Dileep-starrer Thankamani For Misrepresentation Of Kerala Village

A Thankamani village resident in Idukki district has approached the Kerala High Court, seeking the removal of allegedly fabricated scenes from the upcoming Malayalam film Thankamani, starring Dileep. The film is based on a true event from October 1986, but the petitioner disputes the “incorrect and derogatory portrayal” depicted in the teaser. The plea contends that the teaser suggests untrue incidents of men hiding in agricultural lands and women being raped by policemen in the village. The petitioner argues that such events never occurred, with no official records or documents supporting such claims.

The actual incident involved a confrontation between students and staff of the Elite private bus, resulting in the loss of life of a village resident in a shootout and severe injuries, including limb loss, for another man. While acknowledging the Elite bus incident and the student-staff altercation, the villagers vehemently deny the subsequent events portrayed in the film teaser. The claim asserts that the depiction of men hiding in agricultural lands and women being raped by policemen is entirely fictional, according to the surviving members of the incident.

The argument posits that the inclusion of fictional scenes in the film is stigmatising to the villagers and constitutes a violation of their fundamental rights. The case is scheduled to be heard next week by Justice Devan Ramachandran’s bench. The petition has been filed by Advocate Jomy K Jose.

The film, initially named D 148 and later officially titled Thankamani, was announced in January 2023 as Dileep’s 148th film. Principal photography commenced in January 2023 in Kottayam and concluded in August 2023, with filming locations spanning Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal, Poonjar, Kuttikkanam, Peermade, and Kattappana. William Francis composed the musical score, and Manoj Pillai and Shyam Sasidharan handled cinematography and editing, respectively.

Thankamani is centred around an incident that transpired on October 21, 1986, in the village of Thankamani in Kerala. The storyline revolves around a dispute over a bus service, culminating in a police baton charge and gunfire.