Supriya Menon Defends English Remarks, Calls Criticism ‘Out of Context’

Kochi – When a light‑hearted exchange between actress Urvashi and presenter Daksha Raveendranath at a recent Aasha promo turned into a social‑media firestorm, producer Supriya Menon found herself dragged into the debate.

It all started when Daksha introduced Urvashi in English. The veteran actress, with a mischievous grin, replied in Malayalam, asking why she needed an English introduction. She later added that speaking Malayalam “with love” makes it easier for everyone to understand.

The clip quickly spread, sparking a polarised conversation about Malayalam pride, the role of English in Kerala, and whether using English should be deemed arrogant.

Supriya entered the fray after watching creator Carl Lafrenais share the video on Instagram. In her own Instagram comment she wrote, “I don’t understand this constant debate about speaking in English. As someone who’s faced this ever since I stepped into the public eye, I’m baffled. We send our kids to English‑medium schools, we work abroad at the drop of a hat, and we have one of the biggest diasporas. Yet when someone uses English, it’s labeled haughty or arrogant. Why must pride in Malayalam shrink when another language is spoken? It’s baffling indeed.”

Her words, meant as a broader reflection on language choice, were quickly misread. Some social‑media users took the comment as a jab at Urvashi, stirring further criticism.

Not one to stay silent, Supriya clarified in a follow‑up post that she was speaking about the “constant scrutiny surrounding English,” not targeting any individual. She also pointed a finger at the press, writing, “Am I surprised? Not really! Twisting words out of context! Nothing new here. But media houses not even doing basic fact checks. What a shame, the press here has come to!”

The episode has now grown beyond the original banter, evolving into a larger discussion on language identity, the place of English in Kerala’s education system, and how quickly public statements can be reshaped by headlines.

Whether you side with the Malayalam‑first camp or champion a bilingual reality, the incident underscores a simple truth: words, once spoken, belong to many ears, and sometimes, they’re heard in a way the speaker never intended.