Kerala BJP leader deletes post on Mammootty's religion amid actor's visit row

Kerala BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan deleted a year-old post appearing to target Mammootty's religion after the actor's recent visit to his Thrissur home triggered a political row.Mammootty with senior BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan.Thiruvananthapuram,Nov 11, 2026 00:02 ISTBJP leader B Gopalakrishnan has deleted a social media post from last year in which he appeared to target Malayalam superstar Mammootty's religion, days after the actor's visit to the politician's residence in Thrissur triggered a political controversy in Kerala.The deleted post, which resurfaced widely on social media amid the row over Mammootty's visit, was shared after the Kerala State Film Awards were announced last year. Gopalakrishnan had questioned what he described as a "big magic" behind several award winners, including Mammootty, belonging to one particular religion."This is a big magic during an election season," he had written, suggesting that the awards had favoured Muslim actors and technicians to appease the community ahead of elections.Mammootty had won the Best Actor award for his performance in Bramayugam. He also went on to win the National Award for Best Actor for the same role that year. The post was widely circulated by social media users following Mammootty's visit to Gopalakrishnan's house, with several questioning the actor's association with a leader who had allegedly made remarks targeting his religious identity. The post has since been deleted.The development comes amid criticism from several Left-leaning social media accounts over Mammootty's decision to visit the Thrissur residence of Gopalakrishnan, the BJP's Kerala state vice-president, following the wedding of the latter's daughter. The actor visited the politician's home on Sunday evening after being unable to attend the wedding ceremony at Guruvayur on November 1. Videos of the visit were widely shared online, triggering questions over Mammootty's friendship with a BJP leader whom critics have accused of pursuing divisive and communal politics.Several users argued that the actor should be mindful of the political positions of those he associates with.The criticism also revived an earlier controversy involving Mammootty and CPI(M) leaders during his visit to the township built for survivors of the Wayanad landslides.During that visit in March, the actor was seen asking CPI(M) Wayanad district secretary K Rafeeq why he was accompanying him, reportedly saying that people might assume he had arrived on behalf of the Left leader.The video triggered criticism from Left-leaning accounts, with some accusing Mammootty of insulting Rafeeq. The backlash eventually prompted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to publicly apologise to the actor. Mammootty later spoke to Rafeeq through a video call.More recently, the actor faced another round of online criticism after leaders of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) visited him at his residence and shared photographs of the meeting.Some social media users questioned why the leaders had met Mammootty, citing the Wayanad episode and alleging that the actor had not apologised for his reported remarks about Rafeeq.Others circulated photographs of Mammootty with BJP leaders, questioning why he was comfortable associating with politicians from the saffron party while objecting to the presence of Left leaders during his public engagements.GOPALAKRISHNAN, CPI(M) LEADERS DEFEND MAMMOOTTYRejecting the criticism, Gopalakrishnan said friendships should not be judged through political affiliations and that personal relationships transcend differences of religion, caste, language and ideology.Condemning the online attacks, he said some forces were attempting to weaken Kerala's tradition of personal relationships and social harmony by bringing political differences into family occasions.Speaking to reporters, Gopalakrishnan said friendship went beyond political affiliation, religion, caste, language, clothing and colour. He argued that such relationships should be encouraged rather than subjected to political scrutiny.He said friendships had always been an integral part of Kerala's social life, but some people had recently been trying to damage those bonds.Describing Mammootty's visit as a gesture worth appreciating, he said he was particularly pleased that the actor had taken the time to visit his home and bless the newly married couple despite missing the wedding.The controversy also prompted senior CPI(M) leaders to distance the party from the online criticism, maintaining that those targeting Mammootty did not represent its official position.Senior party leader Thomas Isaac said the people behind the attacks were online followers and not party activists.He pointed out that the CPI(M) had official social media accounts, recognised leaders and clearly stated positions, while anyone could claim to speak on behalf of the party in the current online environment.Describing Mammootty as one of Kerala's most respected personalities, Isaac said the actor continued to share a close relationship with the Left and that the party wanted to preserve it.He added that those associated with the party, whether online or otherwise, should act keeping that relationship in mind.CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan had also rejected any party involvement in the attacks, saying the organisation had neither authorised nor wished to target Mammootty.Asked about the alleged online harassment involving the actor and leaders of the SFI and DYFI, Govindan said the party did not believe in coordinating attacks against individuals.He described Mammootty as a celebrated Malayalam actor with worldwide recognition and said the CPI(M) believed in engaging constructively with criticism and encouraging healthy discussions with both supporters and dissenters.Govindan also said party representatives would engage with people across sections of society, irrespective of their political affiliations, and that such interactions would not be restricted to those associated with the SFI and DYFI.Mammootty, a four-time National Award-winning actor and one of the leading figures in Malayalam cinema, is also the chairman of Kairali TV, a channel associated with the CPI(M), and has generally been viewed as a fellow traveller of the Marxist party.- Ends