‘Thank God... no one is taking 'space-giving credit' for movies like Vaishali and Unniyarcha’: Vijay Babu’s strong rebuttal to Rima Kallingal?

While Lokah continues its dream run at the box office, a new controversy of sorts has spiraled out surrounding the movie.

As we delve into it, let’s breeze past the comments made by Rima Kallingal in her recent interview with The New Indian Express (Express Dialogues).

To the unversed, a few days before Rima’s interview, actor Nyla Usha had taken to social media, stating that Lokah’s success also belongs to actors including Parvathy Thiruvothu and Darshana Rajendran, who over the years, with their stellar work, had created space for women in cinema.

During her interaction with The New Indian Express, Rima was asked to share her opinion on Nyla’s statement, to which she promptly replied:

“The credit definitely goes to the whole team of the film, including Dominic, Santhy, Nimish, and Dulquer,” she said. But adding to it, she mentioned, “We’ve collectively created a space where such films can exist” — presumably referring to Parvathy, herself, and others who have always been vocal about women’s space in cinema.

"The real bias exists within the industry — films led by women are given smaller budgets even though audiences pay the same. What we need is equal financial and distribution backing, because cinema itself holds immense power," Rima reflected on the current scenario.

Rima’s candid statements sparked social media discussions, and Vijay Babu’s latest social media post has been dubbed by many as a strong retort or differing opinion to what Rima said in her interview.

The post shared by the actor-producer on Monday reads:

Thank God… no one is taking the space-giving credit for movies like Vaishali, Unniyarcha, Kadattanattu Makam, Kalli Chellamma, Avalude Raavukal, Aadaminte Variyellu, Neelathamara, Panjagni, Ente Sooryaputrikku, Aakashadoodhu, Independence, Elsamma Enna Aankutti, Nandanam, Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, Achuvinte Amma, Kalimannu, How Old Are You, … and the very own 22FK, and many more I can’t remember.

Malayalam has always given the best woman-centric movies. When times changed, and our industry reached greater heights with the introduction of OTT, adding a newer audience, we started making content to GLOBAL STANDARDS!! SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT. Only and full credit to Team Wayfarer & Lokah for finding the space and doing it.

Ever since the post surfaced, it has been going viral, with many calling it Vijay Babu’s strong rebuttal and disapproval of Rima’s statements.

As the prominent actor-producer underlines, the credit for the success of Lokah belongs solely to its team and Wayfarer Films. He is, therefore, contradicting Rima’s statements that she and her co-actors have collectively created the space for such films to exist.

The debates rage on. Notably, Rima and Vijay Babu have shared creative spaces before; they paired in the 2013 film Escape from Uganda.