'Churuli's version with expletives was released without informing me; I was the one who got into trouble, did not get a single rupee for acting in that film'

Malayalam actor Joju George has alleged that he did not receive any remuneration for acting in the film Churuli, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery. In an interview with The New Indian Express, Joju revealed that the film was shot in two versions—one containing expletives intended solely for award submissions, and another cleaned-up version for general release. However, according to the actor, the version with expletives was released without his knowledge or consent.

Joju's words
"I was told the version containing expletives would be sent only for awards. But they went ahead and released that version. I'm still carrying the burden of that decision. They should have contacted me and informed the matter as an act of courtesy before the OTT release. I didn’t receive a single rupee for acting in Churuli. I have expressed this issue directly to them. A case was even filed against me because of the foul language used in the film. Yet, no one bothered to inform me about the release. The matter became a huge issue in the place I live. There's no point in talking more about it now. It just happened that way," Joju said.

The film had earlier come under legal scrutiny after the Kerala High Court criticised its language. After examining scenes from the film, Justice N. Nagaresh observed that Churuli was filled with obscene language that violated public decency standards. The court’s remarks came during the hearing of a petition filed by Thrissur-based advocate Peggy Fen, who sought the removal of the film from OTT platforms.

Subsequently, the High Court issued notices to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), director Lijo Jose Pellissery, and Joju George. In its response, the CBFC clarified that the version released on streaming platforms was not the one approved by the board, further fueling the controversy.