‘Malayalee from India’ row: No plagiarism, movie’s significance undermined, says Dijo

Director Dijo Jose Antony has stepped forward to address the allegations of plagiarism surrounding his recent film 'Malayalee from India’.

Speaking at a press conference held in Kochi, Dijo denied the accusations, asserting that he is not someone who resorts to plagiarism in filmmaking. He expressed his dejection at the allegations that have surfaced recently, emphasising his intention to produce quality films upon entering the industry.

Dijo said that he was in Bahrain promoting the film when the issue arose, explaining the delay in responding to the accusations. The decision to convene a press conference involving key members of the FEFKA, including B Unnikrishnan, was made subsequently. Dijo also mentioned that he is indebted to FEFKA for the same.

Dijo said that since the film's release, efforts have been ongoing to undermine its significance. He said, "Since the release of ‘Malayalee from India’, I have faced relentless criticism. From day one, my intention in entering the industry has been to create quality films. It has been six years since then. Let me be clear: the film was neither plagiarised nor stolen. My purpose has always been to direct films. The allegations against me include claims of plagiarism in my previous works, 'Jana Gana Mana,' and now 'Malayalee from India'. I want to stress that I am solely a director, not a writer-director. When making accusations, precision is important, don't you agree?"

Addressing promotional strategies, Dijo asserted his unique approach to marketing films. He recounted instances where crucial scenes were withheld from release, asserting the need to maintain suspense and integrity. “There have been claims that many aspects of the film have been concealed. You can view the pooja and location videos of the movie on my social media pages. If you inquire if there was any promotional shortcomings for this film, my answer would be no. In the second half, the movie's tone shifts and becomes more serious. The audience does experience the expected humour,” he said.