Clip from play on Emergency-era torture misrepresented as obscene

A Malayalam play titled Misa, staged at the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state conference in Thrissur, has sparked controversy after a scene depicting custodial torture during the 1975 Emergency was clipped, edited, and shared on social media as an obscene dance performance. The play, performed by Chilanka Floating Theatre, portrays the story of actor Snehalata Reddy, who was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and tortured in custody.

Social media accounts linked to the BJP, Congress, and Sangh Parivar circulated the clip, with BJP Kasaragod district president ML Ashwini questioning the culture promoted by DYFI and its parent party. Chinnus Chilanka, the actor in the scene, told The News Minute that the criticism is an attempt to silence the play's political message. She said the scene is based on Snehalata Reddy's book A Prison Diary, which documents how women prisoners were stripped and assaulted.

DYFI has announced that Misa will be performed again at the state conference venue on Saturday, August 22, the closing day. DYFI state secretary VK Sanoj defended the play, accusing critics of isolating a single scene while ignoring its broader theme. The play has previously been performed at DYFI district conferences in Kollam, Kottayam, and Alappuzha.