THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a scathing attack on the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan claimed that if the iconic political satire Sandhesham were released today, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government would have likely banned it.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Satheesan used the cult classic film to highlight what he described as the CPIM’s growing intolerance toward political criticism and artistic freedom. He saluted the legendary actor and screenwriter Sreenivasan for his visionary writing, noting that the satirical dialogues between characters played by Sreenivasan and Sankkaradi remain remarkably relevant in today’s political climate.
Cracking Down on Satire
Satheesan’s comments come in the wake of recent government actions against parody songs and social media content that criticize the administration. He alleged that the government is systematically curbing freedom of expression by targeting those who use humor or satire to expose administrative failures.
”The dialogues in Sandhesham are a testament to Sreenivasan’s foresight. He accurately depicted the political hypocrisy we see today. However, under the current regime, such creative critiques are being stifled,” Satheesan stated.
Local Body Election Fallout
The Opposition Leader also mocked the CPIM for failing to learn from their recent setbacks in the local body elections. He remarked that despite a clear public mandate against the government, the ruling party continues to seek justifications rather than addressing the core issues of the people.
Satheesan further criticized the government’s attempts to remove parody content from social media platforms, calling it a desperate move to hide from public dissent. He reiterated that the UDF remains committed to protecting the democratic right to criticize the government through art and satire.
The controversy over the film Sandhesham—which famously poked fun at the blind ideological adherence of political cadres—has once again taken center stage in Kerala’s heated political discourse, serving as a metaphor for the ongoing clash between the ruling front and the opposition.
