Actions of a few individuals are putting the entire industry under suspicion: Abhilash Pillai

In a significant turn of events, Kerala's film industry was rocked by the arrest of directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza in a drug-related incident. Reacting to the news, scriptwriter Abhilash Pillai shared his thoughts on Facebook, expressing his disappointment and concern over the negative impact the situation could have on the industry.

Abhilash, who is best known for writing the script of the successful film Malikappuram, took to social media to voice his frustrations. He expressed that hearing about the "drug hunt" early in the morning left him feeling uneasy. "The actions of a few individuals are putting the entire industry under suspicion. There are thousands of people in this industry who work without using drugs, and their lives are being affected by this," he wrote.

He continued, "Let me just say one thing — only through purification will the industry move forward. We will rise above this."

Abhilash, whose first film was Night Drive, is also the screenwriter behind Kadavar, Pathaam Valavu, and Anand Sreebala. His message resonated with many within the industry, who are hoping for the incident to not overshadow the hard work of countless professionals.

The arrests were made following an investigation based on confidential information. In addition to Rahman and Hamza, another individual, identified as Shalif Mohammed, was arrested. The three were found in possession of 1.6 grams of hybrid cannabis. After their arrest, they were granted station bail. The authorities apprehended them in a flat near Kochi's Goshree Bridge, which reportedly belongs to cinematographer Sameer Thahir.

This incident has raised concerns about the impact it could have on the reputation of the Malayalam film industry, with many hoping it will be swiftly addressed and not tarnish the collective efforts of those working within the sector.