Mohanlal’s 2007 blockbuster Chotta Mumbai has stormed back into cinemas, drawing packed houses across Kerala. With its high-energy mass appeal, catchy soundtrack and cult one-liners, the film’s re-release has brought nostalgic joy to thousands. Fans, both young and old, are queuing outside theatres, celebrating with dance and cheers, as though the film were a fresh release.

The Anwar Rasheed directorial, which originally clashed with Mammootty’s Big B but still succeeded, is once again proving its power at the box office. The re-release stars an ensemble cast including Jagathy Sreekumar, Siddique, Bhavana, Kalabhavan Mani, and Rajan P Dev, with Mohanlal as the ever-popular Vasco da Gama.

Concerns rise: Is the humour outdated and harmful?

While the film’s popularity remains high, not everyone is cheering. Sheethal Shyam, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and transgender rights advocate from Kerala, has criticised the lack of conversation around problematic content in the film. Speaking in an interview with Showscape Journal of The Malabar Journal, Sheethal questioned the nature of the celebration.

“At a time when we speak of political correctness and progressive values, what exactly are we celebrating?” she asked. “Who is examining, questioning, or receiving films like these?”

Sheethal argued that while the film may be commercially successful and technically impressive, its content — particularly the use of rape jokes, double meanings, and the portrayal of women — has aged poorly.

Sheethal highlighted how the film’s humour, including the depiction of actor Shakeela and various sexually suggestive dialogues, would not sit well in today’s social climate.

Referring to one of the film’s cast members who is now a sexual assault survivor, she said, “I wonder if those who acted in the film would even be able to sit through it today. Watching it now, the actors would have an altogether different perception of the film after all these years.”

She also mentioned that some actors involved in the film have since been accused under the MeToo movement, adding further weight to the criticism.

The activist said that the success of a film does not justify silence around its flaws. “Chotta Mumbai is just one example," she noted.