Following the controversy stirred by his earlier Instagram story in support of Aavesham makeup artist Ranjith Gopinathan, also known as RG Wayanadan, Rohith VS has issued a detailed clarification. The director, whose works include Kala, Iblis and Adventures of Omanakuttan, had initially defended Wayanadan after his arrest for possessing 45 grams of hybrid cannabis, but his comments received backlash, with some accusing him of making anti-national or anti-religious remarks.
In his updated statement, Rohith acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding his previous words. "Okay, so I posted something about a friend being caught for cannabis use yesterday and quoted about monks in Kumbh Mela smoking it," he began. "Some people took it as anti-national, some people took it as anti-religious or anti-Hindu. According to Indian law, cannabis use is a punishable offence. I wish to carry out a discussion here—I’m not for or against the use of it."
Rohith went on to question whether cannabis use truly leads to societal violence, distancing himself from synthetic drugs and alcohol, which he pointed out were often more harmful. "I have seen the government selling bhang in North India. I have seen 5th-dimension monks smoking it for advanced neural cleansing and focus. I have heard it’s used as a medicine. I’ve known it’s legal in many countries. I’ve seen people buying and smoking it from govt shops in Thailand. I came across data that the crime rate in Thailand is lower than in India," he continued.
The director also expressed his respect for all religions, explaining his belief that religious texts, including the Quran, Bible, Vedas, and writings on Kashmiri Shaivism, all convey similar messages of spiritual enlightenment. He referenced the Atharva Veda, where cannabis is mentioned as a remedy for anxiety and a means to release joy. "It’s all the same—understanding the dualities of consciousness and attaining the Advaita state, i.e., the non-dual, non-thinking state," Rohith explained. He emphasised that his post was not intended to incite religious or cultural discord. He further acknowledged that cannabis was banned in India in 1985 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), pointing out that even coffee had been banned at one point.
"I just wish to seek the truth behind it," Rohith concluded, inviting an open, judgment-free conversation on the topic. He stated that he aimed to foster dialogue, not to promote substance use while urging people to avoid religious conflicts in the discussion.
