Cinema VinesIn a wave of support that has swept across the Malayalam film industry, several prominent actors, filmmakers, writers and authors have publicly backed students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The solidarity gathering took place on Tuesday at Maharaja’s College in Kochi, where Joju George, Santhy Balachandran, filmmaker Aashiq Abu, writer N S Madhavan and author K R Meera joined the demonstration in favour of the students’ cause. Actress Gouri Kishan also marched with a placard that read, “Listen to peaceful voices, democracy hears everyone.” Rapper‑actor Baby Jean was among the attendees, expressing solidarity with the protestors.
Other Malayalam film personalities used social media to voice their support on the same day. Indrajith Sukumaran, Meenakshi, Kunchacko Boban, Siju Sunny, Rahman, Vinay Forrt, Kalidas Jayaram, Naslen, Nikhila Vimal, Grace Antony, Deepa Thomas and Hashir all posted messages backing the students. A day earlier, actors Vismaya Mohanlal, Tovino Thomas, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Rima Kallingal had already reacted to the developments. Tovino Thomas condemned the alleged use of force against students who were protesting peacefully and, in a social‑media note, wrote, “My politics is humanity, and my belief is peace,” while extending his support to citizens taking part in the protest.
Parvathy Thiruvothu shared videos from Jantar Mantar on her Instagram Stories, criticizing the handling of the protest and urging people not to remain silent in the face of what she described as oppression. She emphasized that every citizen has equal rights. Indrajith Sukumaran echoed similar sentiments, stating that every citizen has the right to express dissent and protest peacefully, and that authorities should not resort to violence against peaceful demonstrators. He also expressed condolences to students who reportedly lost their lives in connection with the question‑paper leak and wished for the concerns of those injured during the protest to be addressed at the earliest.
At the protest venue itself, actors Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi, along with television presenter Ranjini Haridas, were present in support of the students. Similar solidarity gatherings have been organized at different locations across Kerala, underscoring a growing movement within the Malayalam film community to stand with the students and advocate for democratic principles and peaceful protest.
