Thiruvananthapuram: Actress Manju Warrier Files Defamation Case Against Filmmaker

Thiruvananthapuram: Actress Manju Warrier has filed a defamation case against filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, accusing him of repeatedly making derogatory remarks and posting defamatory content about her.

The petition, submitted to the Ernakulam Munsiff Court, calls for the immediate removal of all offensive comments and social media posts directed at her.

Her lawyer, Shanti Mayadevi, stated that Manju has endured ongoing attacks on her character through various content shared by Sanal over several years.

“She is a respected figure in society. While some believe she should speak out, she has neither the time nor the inclination to address these claims publicly.

The proper course of action is to respond through the court, which we have done,” the lawyer told reporters on Saturday.

She mentioned that three interim applications had been filed, and the court issued an interim order in one of them.

She also noted that the court has sent notices to Meta regarding a petition to remove existing content and other allegedly defamatory material shared on the platform.

The court has instructed the respondents to submit their counter affidavit by September 30.

Sasidharan, who directed Manju Warrier in the 2020 film "attam," has for years made allegations about her personal life and safety,

claiming she is being held captive by a sex racket. He is now on an indefinite strike outside the Secretariat, calling for a thorough investigation by the authorities.

As part of his protest, he placed his state film awards on the street in a symbolic move. Notably, in January 2025, Sanal was arrested after a complaint from Manju Warrier and a related lockout circular, before being released on bail by a magistrate.