Mammootty Speech Irks Marxists as Lal - Kamal Escape

 Mega Star Mammootty speech at Kerala’s India’s First Extreme Poverty-Free State event has not gone down well with hardcore Marxist supporters. They feel that he made a dig at CPM Government by saying that highways and other developments cannot be an achievement without eradicating poverty itself. In short he debunked the claim that freeing 64,000 families from extreme poverty was not such a great feat, From what we know Kamal Haasan was very much in Chennai and had no public function and Mohanlal too was in Chennai shooting for BB Malayalam in Vel Film City on October 31. Whether he left for Dubai in wee jours of November 1 st is not known. These Two celebs did not turn up at Thiruvanthapuram to be part of the Kerala State Government prrogramme to mark India’s First Extreme Poverty-Free State: It was left to Mammootty who after a stint in Hyderabad and UK to come to Thiruvanthapuram to make the event special. On sidelines, Actor Prem Kumar who was acting Chairman of Chalachithra Academy was replaced by Resul Pookutty Oscar winner and reason was that ASHA workers protest got a support from Kumar. A Look at Controversey behind Mammootty Speech

Mammootty's speech at an event declaring Kerala "extreme poverty-free" on November 1, 2025, was not inherently controversial itself. Instead, the controversy stemmed from the opposition and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers boycotting the government's entire event and its core claim, arguing that the state was not truly free from poverty and that using film stars was a political gimmick. 

Mammootty's Statements

Key Points of Mammootty's Speech

• "Only extreme poverty has been eradicated; poverty still remains": This was the central point of his speech. He noted that while the state had achieved the significant milestone of eliminating extreme poverty, the larger problem of general poverty had yet to be fully addressed, placing a greater responsibility on the Chief Minister and the government.
• True development is not just infrastructure: Mammootty stressed that development is not merely about constructing "highways and large buildings" but about improving social life and eradicating poverty completely. He stated that "any amount of dazzling developments will have no value before a starving stomach".
• Call for collective effort: He called for the public to stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the government to continue the fight against poverty, emphasizing mutual love, trust, and brotherhood as Kerala's true social wealth. 
• Nuanced Remark: In this highly charged political environment, Mammootty's statement distinguishing between "extreme poverty" and "poverty" was interpreted by some as a subtle acknowledgement of the opposition's arguments or a non-partisan stance that avoided fully endorsing the government's celebratory claims without directly criticising them. 

Overall, Mammootty's speech was widely reported as a thoughtful, responsible, and largely apolitical take on a politically contentious event, rather than a controversy caused by an inflammatory statement. 

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Context of the Controversy

 

The controversy was related to the event itself and the state government's declaration: 

• Opposition Boycott: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted the event and a special Assembly session, calling the government's claim a "pure fraud" and a "publicity stunt" ahead of elections.
• ASHA Workers' Protests: ASHA workers, who were involved in identifying the impoverished families, held protests and wrote an open letter to the invited actors (Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Kamal Haasan), urging them not to attend. They argued that many ASHA workers themselves live in extreme poverty on meager daily wages (₹233) and that the state could not be called "extreme poverty-free" while they suffered.
• Expert Skepticism: Developmental economists also reportedly brushed aside the government's claims, noting a lack of a proper study to support the conclusion. 

His speech acknowledged the limitations of the declaration, which was seen by some as a subtle recognition of the protestors' concerns. In a personal note, Mammootty mentioned that he has not been active in public forums or his hometown... "But looking now, I see that in this period, a lot of astonishing development has taken place,"

The ceremony concluded with Mammootty formally receiving the extreme poverty eradication project report.