Actor-filmmaker Revathy has publicly extended her support to Shwetha Menon, who is facing allegations she has described as politically motivated ahead of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) presidential elections. In an Instagram post, Revathy shared a poster of the 2010 film Penpattanam, in which the two worked together, alongside a message praising Shwetha’s professionalism and resilience.
“My dear Shwetha, we have worked together and I know you well enough to say that you have been a thorough professional in your career always. You have had the courage to portray roles that have been played so well by you. Stay strong and don’t let people with such limited beliefs break you. You are a daughter, a friend, a wife, a mother, a Woman and an Actor – a good one at it all. Stand up tall my dear!!” she wrote, adding the hashtag #avalkkoppam, meaning “with her”.
Revathy’s statement comes days after a case was registered against Shwetha based on a complaint by social activist Martin Menachery, who alleged she gained financially from films and advertisements containing sexually explicit content. The complaint cited Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, Rathinirvedam, Kalimannu and a condom advertisement. Martin claimed that the actor's clips from these works were being circulated on adult websites and social media to earn a profit.
Shwetha has secured a High Court order staying all criminal proceedings against her, arguing in her petition that the complaint was timed to damage her prospects in the AMMA elections. Veteran actor Rahman has also spoken in her defence, calling the allegations “baseless” and “a deliberate attempt” to prevent her from becoming president.
