Kochi’s film promotion scene erupted in controversy when the press conference for Kannada blockbuster ‘Korigajja’ was derailed by a scheduling showdown with Malayalam superstar Mammootty. Kabir Bedi, the film’s star draw, branded the episode ‘insulting’ and a breach of professional courtesy.
The pan-Indian project, inspired by Tulu Nadu’s revered folk god Korigajja, boasts Bedi in a key role alongside actress Bhavya. With invitations dispatched a week early, the team arrived pumped for Kochi buzz. Disaster struck when Mammootty’s ‘Chathapach’ team slotted their event at the identical slot, announced merely a day before.
‘Korigajja’s camp insists it was sabotage, exploiting Mammootty’s massive pull that guarantees media hordes. In compact markets like Kochi, one reporter often covers films and more—clashes like this defy unwritten rules, where PR pros sync schedules. Instead, a midnight ultimatum arrived: yield or face empty chairs.
Despite sunk costs in lakhs, the team bowed out, settling for a skeletal 5 PM meet-up. Director Sudheer Attavar and producer Trivikram Saplaya vented fury, calling it a stain on Malayalam industry’s hospitality. Saplaya contrasted it with nationwide triumphs, including Mangaluru’s media frenzy, and pointed to the film’s Malayalam collaborators left puzzled by the snub.
‘Why the hostility when Kannada fans flock to Malayalam hits in Bengaluru?’ Saplaya probed, hinting at linguistic undercurrents. Bedi, who admires Malayalam cinema’s award dominance, lamented the lack of dialogue. ‘Coordination via media or PR was essential,’ he urged, hoping Mammootty was unaware.
Bhavya fired back too, slamming the affront to Bedi’s legendary status. This Kochi fiasco spotlights fragile alliances in South Indian cinema, where regional pride can spark promotional wars and leave artists like Bedi disillusioned.