On Thursday, filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery broke his silence and issued a statement responding to the claims made by Joju George, which have sparked discussion over the past few days. The controversy arose after Joju, in a recent interview with The New Indian Express, spoke about his experience working on Churuli and the backlash he faced following its release. The actor alleged that he was misled about the film’s use of explicit language, stating he had been told the version containing expletives would be used only for awards consideration, but that the same version was later released to the public. Joju also claimed he had not received payment for his work and expressed disappointment at not being informed about these decisions, saying the fallout from the language used in the film had caused him distress.
In his statement, Lijo said the clarification was being provided because of the distress caused to the producers. He pointed out that Churuli, which holds an ‘A’ certificate, has not been released in cinemas so far. The team had consulted the relevant committee, and Lijo noted that there is a High Court judgement regarding the use of language in the film. Refuting the claim that Joju was misled, Lijo stated, “None of us recall misleading you during the making of the film.” He added, in what appeared to be a subtle reference to Joju’s own character in Churuli, “Thankan chettan is someone who has a good understanding of this language.”
Addressing the question of remuneration, Lijo said that Chembosky Motion Pictures, the banner that co-produced the film, had documented the payment details made to Joju for his three-day guest appearance. According to the company’s ledger for the financial year 2019–2020, Joju (credited as Joseph George) was paid a total of Rs 5,90,000. This included Rs 5,00,000 as artist fees and Rs 45,000 each towards CGST and SGST.
Lijo also mentioned that Churuli is currently streaming on SonyLIV and would be released in cinemas if the opportunity arises. The film, a science fiction mystery thriller, follows two undercover policemen who travel to a remote village called Churuli in search of a fugitive, only to find themselves trapped in a strange, surreal world where the villagers behave unpredictably and the boundaries of reality begin to blur. The film premiered at the International Film Festival of Kerala, where it received widespread praise. While many critics and cinephiles hailed it as a daring and immersive work, it also sparked controversy for its use of explicit language and divided the audience.
