Milma feels heat over ad 'mocking' MP Shafi Parambil with nose injury; withdraws it

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid political controversy following the police lathi charge that caused the nose injury of Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil, Milma withdrew an advertisement card posted on social media that allegedly caricatured Shafi in a similar form. The card, posted on the Facebook page of Milma Malabar Regional Union, sparked protests from Congress workers.

The advertisement depicted a person with a plaster on their nose. The caption read, "I only know how to eat, I don’t know how to buy – Thorappan Kochunni," referring to the character played by Harisree Ashokan in the film ‘CID Moosa’. The dialogue, "I only know how to write, I don’t know how to read" from the film, had been popular with audiences at the time.

There was widespread circulation on social media suggesting that the ad intended to mock Shafi. However, Milma chairman K S Mani reportedly responded by saying that the card was not meant to insult anyone. The social media team at Milma handles such matters. Milma has no interest in attacking anyone politically and usually provides catchy advertising slogans to attract consumers. There was no other intention behind this, Mani added.

Mima did it again!

Earlier also, Milma had to withdraw another advertisement caricaturing a student who got into an altercation with the police after failing to cross the barricade during the BJP’s Cliff House march. The ad featured the phrase, “Da mone onnu cool aayikke nee” (“Hey son, just calm down a bit”), spoken by the character Lacey. It was withdrawn after the student’s father filed a complaint with Milma authorities.