In response to recent allegations of script plagiarism concerning Malayalee From India, raised by screenwriter Nishad Koya, the Producers Association issued a statement asserting that any similarities were purely coincidental. The controversy arose when screenwriter Nishad Koya shared a post on Meta ‘predicting’ the plotline of the Nivin Pauly-starrer just a day before its release, later removing it, fuelling rumours that it closely resembled a project that the Malayalam writer had announced in 2021. Malayalee From India Plagiarism Controversy Explained: Why Writer Nishad Koya Has Accused Dijo Jose Antony of Lifting His Script for Nivin Pauly-Starrer.

Director B Unnikrishnan addressed the media in Kochi, emphasising that the similarities between Sharis Mohammed’s script (the writer of Malayalee From India) and Nishad Koya’s were coincidental. He clarified that Ellam Sheriyakum’s cinematographer Sreejith Nair had initially planned to direct Malayalee From India during the COVID-19 phase in 2021. Sharis shared the story of India and Pakistan going into quarantine with Sreejith. Although drafts were worked on and discussions began in August 2021 with production controller Harris Desom, the project faced setbacks, leading Sharis and Dijo to work upon Jana Gana Mana. B Unnikrishnan further noted that multiple writers can have the same story and idea.

B Unnikrishnan, Listin Stephen & Dijo Jose Antony Addressing Plagiarism Allegations

After multiple revisions, Sharis Mohammed finalised the film’s draft, in which Sreejith was acknowledged as a creative contributor in Malayalee From India. The film, which released in theatres on May 1, is bankrolled by Listin Stephen under the banner of Magic Frames.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2024 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).