Police commissioner directs CCB to review Malayalam movie over depiction of Bengaluru women

BENGALURU: The Malayalam film ‘Lokah’ has sparked controversy in Bengaluru for its portrayal of the city and its women. The film, produced by Dulquer Salmaan, features a scene where a character refers to Bengaluru women as “characterless” and “promiscuous”, which has led to widespread outrage among Kannadigas.

Kalyani Priyadarshan plays the role of a superhero. Raj B Shetty’s Laughing Buddha has released this film in Karnataka.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh has directed that the Central Crime Branch to review the Malayalam movie, investigate the claims and initiate action against the movie crew if any violations are found.

The dialogue, delivered by the antagonist Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda, played by Sandy, has been at the centre of the controversy. The film’s portrayal of Bengaluru as a hub of parties and drug abuse has also disappointed many.

Following the backlash, Dulquer Salmaan’s production house, Wayfarer Films, issued an apology, stating that the line was an “oversight” and was never intended to offend. They assured that the dialogue would be removed or edited at the earliest.