‘An age where cowards with neither face nor name take vengeance on the truth…’ — Murali Gopy

Screenwriter and actor Murali Gopy has issued a subtle yet poignant critique of contemporary societal intolerance and the rise of cyberbullying, through a commemorative essay on renowned writer and filmmaker P. Padmarajan. The article, published in Mathrubhumi daily, was written on the occasion of Padmarajan’s 80th birth anniversary, observed on Friday, 23 May.

Gopy, known for his politically and socially charged narratives, used the occasion to reflect on the degeneration of public discourse in the digital era. Without naming any individuals or events directly, he lamented the toxic environment faced by truth-speaking writers today.

“This is an age where cowards with neither face, nor name, nor mind — hiding behind the gaps of keyboards — summon others to take vengeance on the truth, with the blood of the writer,” Gopy wrote in his tribute. He further commented that society as a whole has transformed into a ‘media’ laced with hypocrisy and cruelty.

Reflecting on Padmarajan’s untimely demise in 1991, Gopy recounted his personal memory of witnessing the revered writer’s body being brought home to Muthukulam. Then a teenager of 19, Gopy remembered grieving over the loss of a literary giant who, in his eyes, had not been granted the long life he deserved.”

“Today, I can no longer imagine an 80-year-old Padmarajan,” he wrote. “He was not meant to perish in the afflictions of old age. In an age where one’s truth invites punishment, and where even critical thought is hung like a grotesque exhibit, it is perhaps for the better that he did not live to become a fading star lost in despair.”

The essay comes amid controversy surrounding the film Empuraan, released on 27 March, starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj. The film faced backlash over certain scenes, prompting the filmmakers to publicly announce the removal of controversial content. While director Prithviraj and producer Antony Perumbavoor shared Mohanlal’s post expressing regret on social media, Murali Gopy — the film’s screenwriter — had notably refrained from making any public comment.

Gopy’s essay, though not directly referencing Empuraan, is being widely interpreted as a contemplative response to the criticism and cyber-attacks he may have silently endured in recent months.