This is why we have trust issues! Malayalam movie promotions that crossed the line

At a time when there is a plethora of movies to choose from, it is only natural that sometimes filmmakers and producers up their marketing game (instead of content)! From going on promotional tours to encouraging audience interaction by making them participate in contests, we have seen promotions come in all shapes and sizes. Well, when such marketing gimmicks go into vain, a few have chosen to travel through the road less taken. For instance, In 2019, Asha Sharath dropped a video on Facebook claiming that her husband went ‘missing’. The video of the actress in distress went viral, even before the word viral was popular. While it broke the internet, it also attracted criticism and even legal soup for misleading people.

In 2019, actor Asha Sharath dropped a video on Facebook, claiming that her husband is missing. The unsettling video featured a worried Asha Sharath sans makeup, who said that her husband has been missing for about 45 days and that she has lodged a complaint at the Kattappana police. She also asked the people watching this video to contact them in case they get any information regarding him. The video blew the internet, and while a few lauded the marketing tactics, a few others were furious because the video appeared to be very genuine, and a public figure misleading them was unacceptable. A lawyer even filed a complaint against the makers.

(Pic courtesy: Instagram)

In 2020, actors Arun Kurian and Santhy Balachandran dropped theirSave the date photos. Well, two people working in the same profession, have a greater chance of falling in love. And so, a few took the ‘save the date’ photos quite seriously. The photos flooded the internet, however, soon it was unveiled that they shot the ‘save the date’ photos for their upcoming film ‘Paapam Cheyyathavar Kalleriyatte’! Well, now we are wondering how can one really find out which is a reel wedding from real?

(Pic courtesy: Instagram)

Sreenath Bhasi dropped a video on social media, wherein he (his character Amruthesh) was seen challenging and cursing the collector Pushpangathan IAS, for deleting his Facebook account. The incident took place in 2019, and well, there was a greater probability of people believing in it (even now, we know you know we know)! Well, the marketing strategy definitely helped the makers of ‘Allu Ramendran’ to seek the attention of the audience.

(Pic courtesy: Instagram)

Last year (2022), Nithya Menen dropped a video, of a home pregnancy kit that indicated she was pregnant. “And, the Wonder begins,” she captioned. The post went viral for obvious reasons, and many even congratulated her on the ‘good news’. Soon enough actor Paravathy Thiruvothu too dropped a similar photo claiming to be pregnant. Well, two actors, sharing the same photo, and talking about ‘wonder’ cannot be a coincidence. Soon it was revealed that they were promoting their film ‘Wonder Women’. Though the ‘wonder’ announcement didn’t blow out of proportion, we are left with trust issues! Why? However, the purpose was served!

(Pic courtesy: Instagram)