Film criticism was once a subject that was handled with great care by news media and magazines in Kerala. With the advent of social media, moviegoers started criticism of their own. Once the fans of movie stars joined hands and started evaluating the movie only from their narrow point of view, reviews that were destroying movies also started coming along with it.

For added credibility, vloggers are throwing bad comments in front of the theatres on the day of the movie's release itself. People stopped believing in 'reviews' when these people were ready to praise or ridicule the movie for money. Their single-word comments like 'first half is not good, climax failed, average, waste of money etc ' they make, are not criticism targetting the movie alone but torpedoes that destroy the entire film industry itself.

At least some people will be influenced by such reviews. The only consolation is that no matter how bad the reviews are if the film is good, it will have a successful run. Mouth publicity is what benefits movies the most. Finally, the High Court itself has come out directly against the spread of reviews on social media that cross all boundaries. The court opined that reviews which destroy the films should not be done, be it after 7 days or 70 days. The court also directed the DGP to take strict police action against those who extort money by blackmail under the guise of movie reviews.

The court said these things in a petition filed by Mubeen Rouf, the director of the film 'Aromalinte Aadhyathe Pranayam', seeking to control the negative reviews that destroy the films. At the same time, the court also pointed out that there is no obstacle to healthy criticism. The court has also clarified that vloggers who blackmail are the ones who should fear the order. Actually, such a petition should have been filed by the Producers Association much earlier. It's unfortunate that they didn't.

The court has verbally asked where the association was until the court intervened. The association has sought implementation of the post of BIS Review Administrator according to the Bureau of Indian Standards, but the court has expressed doubt as to how effective this would be. The government has informed the court that it will prepare a protocol in consultation with people related to the film industry such as directors, producers, actors etc. to prevent paid reviews under the guise of reviews. Such negative reviews as if anyone who can afford a ticket is wise about the movie should be stopped.