What Happened To 'Turkish Tharkam': Actor Lukman Avaran Reacts

Following the take down of the Malayalam film Turkish Tharkkam from theatres after allegations of religious concerns, lead actor Lukman addressed the controversy.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the actor clarified that the decision to withdraw the film was made collectively by the producer and the director. “t has come to my attention that there are some unfortunate discussions going on regarding the film Turkish Tharkam, in which I am an actor. The shooting of this film started two and a half years ago. I understand that the withdrawal of this film from the theaters after its release was a collective decision of the producer and the director,” the actor wrote on Facebook.

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Lukman has clarified that the decision to withdraw the movie was a joint one made by the director and the producer. However, he stated that being an actor from the film, he has not received from explanation from the filmmakers.

The film, starring Sunny Wayne, Lukman, and Harishree Ashokan, was withdrawn from the theaters following allegations of religious insult. The controversy surrounding the movie erupted after threats were made against the film producer’s and director.

However, Lukman in his post, stated that he did not receive any kind of threats on his post. “I am not aware of any threats to me or anyone I know regarding this film. Therefore, I would like to clarify that beyond being an actor in that film, I have no role in the discussions that are currently taking place,” he wrote.

He further added, “My position is that if there are any malicious intentions behind the ongoing controversy surrounding this film, it should be investigated.”

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Director Navaz Suleiman and Producer Nadir Khalid came forward citing the issue. They said that the film which was originally released on November 22, will be re-released after removing the portions that had “offended” a particular religion.