M.B. Padmakumar's emotional outburst after Sibi Malayil's shocking remarks: "You threw sand in my rice bowl"

Time of India

02-07-2025

There has been a huge controversy in the Malayalam film industry involving two popular directors,
Sibi Malayil
and M.
Padmakumar
. It broke out after Sibi Malayil had said a few negative words regarding Padmakumar's new film Janaki vs State of Kerala, which greatly pained Padmakumar.
He shared an emotional video response, come, let's see what he has to say about this.
The controversy centers around two prominent figures in
Malayalam cinema
—veteran director Sibi Malayil and filmmaker M.B. Padmakumar. Sibi Malayil is widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed directors in the industry, known for his powerful, emotive storytelling that has shaped Malayalam cinema over the decades. On the other hand, M.B. Padmakumar is celebrated for his socially conscious and emotionally charged films, earning a reputation as a hardworking and sincere filmmaker deeply committed to meaningful cinema.
The Controversy Between Them
According to the reports of TheIndianExpress, the disagreement began during a discussion around the current censorship issues related to the film Janaki vs State of Kerala, where the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanded a change in the film's title. While commenting on this controversy, Sibi Malayil also brought up upcoming film Token Number directed by padmakumar referring to it as a 'small film' meant for festivals and 'award purposes.
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Emotional Video Response
Padmakumar was deeply hurt by these remarks. He shared an emotional video response via his official
YouTube
channel titled "Just kill me, Mr Sibi Malayil". In the video, Padmakumar strongly objected to his film being called a 'small' or 'award film.' He questioned whether Sibi Malayil had even watched his movie before passing such remarks.
Padmakumar also expressed that how he had put in immense effort, seven months of hard work, sleepless nights, and financial investment into making 'Token Number'.
He said the film was not made just for awards but for audiences and theatres and calling it 'small' was insulting and deeply discouraging.
Padmakumar's Point of View
What hurt Padmakumar even more was the real-life consequences he had to face because of Sibi Malayil's comment. A film distributor, who had initially agreed to release Token Number, withdrew after hearing that it was an 'award film', he shared how this remark cost him an opportunity to release his film and threatened his livelihood.
He said, 'You threw sand in my rice bowl,' meaning that Sibi's words directly impacted his film career.
Criticism of Large Production Houses
Padmakumar also pointed out how difficult it is for independent filmmakers in the film industry. He criticized how people in power often ignore or look down on small budget films made without big stars or large production houses. He said it's easy for top directors to speak from comfortable positions, but creators like him have to struggle to make their voices heard.
He called out this inequality and urged people not to judge a film without watching it.
Even after all this, Padmakumar said he won't give up. He plans to release Token Number on his own, by renting screens and promoting it independently. He challenged Sibi Malayil to watch the film before making any judgments. He added that if people honestly feel the film is bad after watching it, he will stop making movies altogether. But until then, he just wants a fair chance for his work to be seen and appreciated.