"What took this so long?"
"I knew this would happen!!"
"It was bound to happen, and it would have been a wonder only if it hadn't..."
Following its OTT release on Netflix, Mohiniyattam (Bharathanatyam 2) has become a topic of discussion all over social media. And one cannot say it is all for the right reasons. The remarks mentioned at the beginning are a few reactions from Mollywood fans who found the row unwarranted but unavoidable in the current social media scenario.
Mohiniyattam reached OTT after a commendable box office run. While it garnered appreciation from most quarters, some people did find it offensive. Criticising not just the film crew but the entire Malayalam film industry, they have demanded a ban for insulting Hinduism. One of the viral posts against Mohiniyattam declared that the film, marketed as a dark comedy, is a cheap attack against the Hindu religion, gods, and traditions.
What triggered the right-wing critics?
In an animated sequence referring to a myth key to the movie's plot, Mohiniyattam shows Lord Rama being served "mixture" (a crunchy evening snack blending crispy flour noodles, nuts, pulses, curry leaves, and spices) and buttermilk. It also states that the film portrays temples, prasad (offerings), and Hindu rituals as businesses created by humans for financial gains.
"This is not satire; it is a deliberate insult to the core beliefs of our faith. The film also contains grotesque scenes of dismembered bodies stuffed into banana bags and pressure cookers. Mixing such vulgar content with religious mockery shows its complete insensitivity.
"The real problem: Why do Malayalam and many Indian films repeatedly portray Hindus as villains, superstitious fools, selfish, or backward people? Why are Hindu temples, Brahmins, rituals, and beliefs constantly mocked, while other religions are shown as progressive and noble?" one such viral post said.
‘Mohiniyattam‘ reaches more people
With a far better theatrical run compared to its predecessor, Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam has emerged as a significant commercial success, grossing over Rs 38 crore worldwide in its first 23 days of release. It has maintained a steady run despite competition from other major releases such as Vaazha 2.
When taking into account its modest budget of approximately Rs 5–6 crore, the film is officially a superhit, having achieved over a 200% return on investment. It is currently one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of 2026, ranking alongside hits like Vaazha 2 and Aadu 3. It marks the 150th movie of Saiju Kurup.
The film is headlined by Saiju Kurup, Kalaranjini, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jagadish, Vinay Forrt, Baby Jean, Sreeja Ravi, Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Swathi Das Prabhu, and Sruthy Suresh.
Krishnadas Murali is the director of the film.