‘Those meant to be hurt are wounded’: 'MISA' play-actor slams moral policing; DYFI to restage it

Kozhikode (Kerala): A major online controversy has erupted over the political play MISA, performed at the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state conference by the Chilanka Floating Theatre in Kozhikode. Edited clips of a performance by actor Chinnu Chilanka were selectively cropped and circulated across social media platforms with vulgar and moralistic undertones. Critics targeted the performance, attempting to downplay the historical context of the play.

In response to the viral smear campaign, actor Chinnu Chilanka issued a strong statement defending the play's political message. She asserted that the backlash originates directly from those who feel threatened by the production's critique of state terrorism, which traces authoritarianism from the 1975 Emergency to the present Union government.
 

Focusing on the life of Snehalata Reddy, an actor and activist jailed under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), Chilanka declared herself a successor to slain playwright Safdar Hashmi and vowed to continue portraying powerful figures like Snehalata Reddy and Bilkis Bano on stage.

DYFI state secretary V K Sanoj also condemned the campaign, stating that detractors isolating a single scene through a moralistic lens are merely attempting to mask the atrocities of the Emergency era and silence political dissent.

Refusing to back down, the DYFI leadership announced that the play will be staged again at its state conference venue on Saturday evening.