Malayalam cinema's unprecedented show of support for the student-led protests over the NEET paper leak continued to gather momentum on Thursday, with veteran superstars Mammootty and Manju Warrier becoming the latest prominent voices to express solidarity with the demonstrators.
Taking to social media, Mammootty shared a brief but emphatic message in support of the students. "The youth are the true treasure of our nation. Listen to their voices. Protect them. Empower them," the Bramayugam actor wrote. Mammootty's statement comes a day after his son, actor Dulquer Salmaan, voiced support for the students.
Meanwhile, Manju Warrier shared a strongly worded statement stressing the need to place humanity above politics and calling for transparency in the country's education system. "Humanity should prevail over politics," she wrote. "Our youth have the right to ask questions, raise concerns, and expect meaningful dialogue. Trust in the examination system must be protected, across India. Faith in our education system can only be strengthened through transparency, accountability, and fairness." Calling for fairness and accountability, the Summer in Bethlehem actor added, "Merit must prevail. Truth must matter. Our students deserve hope, not fear, and a future built on fairness."
The latest statements further strengthen what has become one of the largest collective expressions of solidarity from any Indian film industry in support of the ongoing protests. Over the past few days, actors Tovino Thomas, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Vismaya Mohanlal, Asif Ali, Kunchacko Boban, Naslen, Nazriya Nazim, Anaswara Rajan, Shane Nigam, Nikhila Vimal, Rajisha Vijayan, Soubin Shahir, Indrajith Sukumaran, Divya Prabha and several others have publicly backed the students, largely through social media posts condemning the police action and calling for accountability.
On Wednesday, actor Joju George, filmmakers Aashiq Abu, Mahesh Narayanan and Manu Ashokan, actor-writer Santhy Balachandran, rapper Baby Jean, television presenter Ranjini Haridas, writers NS Madhavan and KR Meera, among others, also attended a solidarity gathering at Maharaja's College in Kochi in support of the protestors at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, many fans are now looking to see whether Mohanlal, Mammootty's longtime contemporary and fellow Malayalam superstar, will also issue a statement on the issue.