Mysskin stokes new fire by using 'rape' analogy to describe Mammootty performance in Peranbu

Tamil filmmaker Mysskin has come in for criticism for using an unfortunate 'rape' analogy to describe actor Mammootty's performance at the audio launch of the Malayalam superstar's upcoming film, Peranbu.

"If I were a girl, I would have raped him," said the director while speaking about Mammootty's performance in Ram's Peranbu (2018). Immediately, the Thupparivaalan (2017) filmmaker came in for criticism for making the statement. 

In a video from a Facebook group for Mammootty fans, Mysskin can be seen describing a scene in the film. To emphasize the way the veteran actor captivated him, the director says, "If he had been younger and he had been a woman, I might have fallen in love with him. Had I been a girl, I’d have raped him actually. Such fabulous acting." 

Shockingly, one can hear laughter and applause as the director makes the statement on the dais. 

The statement has not gone down well with several fans on social media. Malayalam cinema is already fighting a bitter battle over the reinstatement of actor Dileep, under trial for allegedly plotting the abduction and assault of an actress in 2017.

The Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA), led by Mohanlal, the other superstar in Malayalam cinema, came in for severe criticism, with several members tendering their resignations, for the decision. 

Actor Mammootty is one of the leading members of the association. 

The Twitter backlash against the director was almost universal. 

Even actor Prasanna, who was part of the director's acclaimed Thupparivaalan (2017), condemned the statement, saying, "Mysskin is a friend of mine. Yet I am disgusted and ashamed of his comments on women and Tamil actors. Can only feel pity for the people who laughed for it." 

The statement by Mysskin comes in a week when director AR Murugadoss and actor Srikanth have been accused of molesting Telugu actress Sri Reddy. While the director later admitted to the website silverscreen.in that he could have 'phrased it differently', there has been no apology so far. 

Peranbu is directed by Ram Subramaniam and features Mammootty alongside Anjali, Samuthirakani, and Sadhana, and has music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.