‘Pallichattambi’ is nothing but political whitewashing: Sandeep Varier

Congress leader Sandeep Varier has criticised Tovino Thomas-starrer “Pallichattambi”, directed by Dijo Jose Antony, alleging that the film presents a distorted version of Kerala’s history during the Liberation Struggle (Vimochana Samaram) and the tenure of the first Communist government.

The film depicts the Cheriyathura police firing, in which a pregnant woman was killed, as an independent action taken by the police without the knowledge of the then Chief Minister, E.M.S. Namboodiripad. Sandeep charged that this portrayal contradicts historical truths.

Here’s Sandeep Varier’s Facebook post:

'Pallichattambi': Whitewashing History

While cinema as an art form allows for freedom of expression, distorting historical facts is a matter that demands serious discussion. It must be said that the film Pallichattambi presents the Liberation Struggle era and the first Communist government by either hiding facts or deliberately whitewashing them.

The most painful symbol of the Liberation Struggle was Flory, a pregnant woman killed in the police firing at Cheriyathura. The manner in which the film handles such brutal actions carried out under a democratic government is extremely strange. The depiction that this cruelty was committed by the police on their own, without the knowledge of the government or Chief Minister E.M.S., is devoid of historical integrity.

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Dissociating the moral and political responsibility of a police firing occurring under a government from its ruler is nothing but 'political whitewashing'. By making it appear that the Chief Minister was unaware of these events, the film is attempting to protect the persona of a leader.

Flory’s death was an event that ignited the Liberation Struggle. Reducing the protest and martyrdom of a people to mere technical errors or police lapses is an injustice to those who were denied justice during that era. Pallichattambi is an attempt to construct a favourable political narrative by whitewashing dark chapters of history.

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For those who read history, this film offers only half-baked truths that glorify one side. If honest political cinema is to be made, the creators must show the courage to portray state terrorism and failures without concealment. The attempt to manufacture fake history will not go unchallenged simply because a "balance" was sought by bringing in the character of M.N. Chandy from Puthuppally.