Mohanlal postpones Barroz release, breaks silence on Hema Committee report: 'I was not in hiding...'

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal made his first public appearance on Saturday by presiding over the inauguration of the Kerala Cricket League. As expected, he broke his silence on the Hema Committee report, which has put the Malayalam film industry in a tough spot.

In his speech, Mohanlal also revealed plans to postpone the release of his directorial debut, Barroz, citing the unfavourable environment at the moment. He began his address by explaining why he didn't immediately react to the revelations of the Hema Committee report and its far-reaching repercussions.

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"After this incident happened, many asked where Mohanlal was hiding. I didn't go anywhere. I had some personal responsibilities; I was not in Kerala for the last few days. I was held up in the hospital following my wife's surgery. And the final mixing of my debut movie Barroz was going on. The crew had come from abroad based on a contract, so I was not immediately available to address this issue. Anyway, I have postponed the release of my film because I cannot move forward with it under these circumstances," said Mohanlal.

Barroz is Mohanlal's passion project, and he has been working on it for over two years now. The film is based on a fantasy adventure, with Mohanlal playing the role of a 400-year-old spirit tasked with guarding Vasco da Gama's hidden treasure. The film is expected to be a visual spectacle and is being presented in a 3D format.

Barroz was set to hit the screens on October 3. However, that's not going to happen now.

In the wake of the Hema Committee reports, which alleged the rampant practice of power abuse and sexual exploitation, Mohanlal was expected to take a decisive stand as the President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). However, it surprised many when he resigned from the post while announcing plans to hold fresh elections soon.

Many have termed Mohanlal's decision as a cop-out, even "cowardly ." "There is the government, police, and court to bring justice to those who have been affected," said Mohanlal, claiming he didn't have much to do in the matter.

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