THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalam actor Dileep’s latest film Ramaleela released on Thursday to the expected response from his fans and producers who flooded social media platforms with effusive reviews.
The actor is in detention in connection with his alleged involvement with men who abducted and molested a leading Malayalam actress in Kochi earlier this year.
The film, whose release was postponed several times as the actor tried and failed to secure bail, casts him in the role of a politician Ramanunni.
Hyped up as one of the most expensive films made in Malayalam, Ramaleela is directed by debutant Arun Gopi and produced by high-profile producer Tomichan Mulakupadam. Its approximate budget was Rs 15 crore.
Prayaga Martin, Renji Panicker, Mukesh and Vijayaraghavan are among the other prominent actors in the movie.
Fans of the actor thronged theatres in the morning and tweeted avidly to promote the film. The film industry had been anxiously waiting for the film's release to see how the public would respond to the Dileep starrer. The producers recently moved court seeking protection for theatres screening Ramaleela. They were denied.
Interestingly Dileep's former wife Manju Warrier's latest movie Udaharanam Sujatha, a remake of a Tamil film Amma Kanakku, was also released on Thursday.
When there was a campaign on social media and outside calling for a boycott of 'Ramaleela', Manju Warrier came out in support of the movie and said in a Facebook post that personal likes and dislikes should not affect a film that involves many lives and careers.
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday reserved its orders on a fresh bail plea filed by Dileep after having rejected four earlier pleas. Police claim that the conspiracy to abduct and assault the actress was hatched by Dileep, who has been lodged in the Aluva sub-jail ever since his arrest on July 10.
Six persons, including prime accused Pulsar Suni are the main accused in the case.
The actress, who has worked in Tamil and Telugu films, was abducted and allegedly molested inside her car for two hours by the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle on February 17 night and later escaped in a busy area.