The most recent movie of Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas, Narivetta, debuted on OTT platforms like SonyLiv and OTTplay Premium. The story of the hard-hitting film, directed by Anuraj Manohar, centers on a tribal protest demanding land allocation and the ensuing police response. However, did you realize that Tovino Thomas' film is based on a true event in Kerala known as the Muthanga stir? The real narrative of the events of 2003 in Muthanga that resulted in two deaths is presented here.

Tovino Thomas' Narivetta was influenced by the real-life tale of Muthanga.

In the 2025 Malayalam film Narivetta, which stars Tovino Thomas and actor Suraj Venjaramoodu as police officers, we are transported to a northern area of Kerala, where there are tribal protests. In 2003, the Muthanga forest area in Wayanad district experienced a similar course of events.

The tribals were protesting against the delay in land allocation, which was promised to them by the state government in 2001. Even this promise was made after social activists CK Janu and Geethanandan led a protest for nearly 50 days, following several deaths that were reported in tribal colonies caused by starvation. But again, no concrete action was taken to rehabilitate the tribals.

As their demands for land and other rehabilitation steps were not met even after 1.5 years, the tribal association of Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha went on a protest path. The tribal people occupied a part of the forest region, setting up huts and declaring it as their area in February 2003.

The police were sent into the area after receiving word of a wildfire. The police spearheaded the charge into the tribal-occupied region on February 19, and the tribals retaliated by throwing stones, swinging sticks, and using other basic weapons. The tribals captured a police constable, KV Vinod, and a forest ranger named Sasidharan. Sasidharan lived despite suffering major injuries, but Vinod died. The police also murdered a tribal named Jogi. Their homes were lit afire after the tear gas was released.

The differences between Muthanga and Narivetta

The movie, which is set in Narivetta, does depict a tribal demonstration and the police response, but it doesn't accurately reflect what actually transpired. Basheer (Suraj Venjaramoodu), a police officer, disappears in the movie while conducting a search in the woods and is eventually discovered dead. One of the security forces is discovered to have murdered Basheer by Tovino's persona Varghese. They planned the crime in such a way as to place the blame on the tribals, which then serves as the catalyst for the police response. Ultimately, Varghese turns into a whistleblower and reveals what actually transpired during the demonstrations. He demonstrates that at least five tribal people were murdered. The Muthanga demonstration, according to records, resulted in two fatalities.

Despite the variations and artistic licenses, Narivetta is still a realistic movie that refocuses the struggle for justice for those who are marginalized in society.

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