Inspired by the Puranic story of Abhimanyu and his mother Subhadra,[2] the film portrays the relationship of the protagonist with her baby, before and after it is born.

But, on the day of the preview of her debut film, Shyam is involved in a fatal road accident and declared brain dead.

[5] The crew stayed in the hospital for nearly a week and a footage lasting for twenty minutes was shot from the delivery room.

The debate began when Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker G. Karthikeyan criticised Shwetha Menon for allowing her delivery to be captured live on camera.

A few days after Karthikeyan made his comments, BJP Mahila Morcha activists announced that they would stall the screening of the movie in Kerala, alleging that Shwetha Menon and Blessy are "exploiting motherhood for commercial purposes" by incorporating the actress's delivery.

[10] Shobha Surendran, Mahila Morcha leader said at a press meet: "We urge the Censor Board and the state government not to allow its screening here.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should intervene in the matter at the earliest and should bring in a law to prohibit such films, which infringe on the morality of the common people.

As per the reports, it is learnt that the depiction of Shweta Menon’s motherhood in the movie is so objectionable that it offends the morality of all the right-thinking women.

I will not be surprised if she plans to deliver her second baby at a public place like festival venues as part of making money.

"[13] Sharikha C. of The Hindu said, "With a subject that was stretched beyond its one- hour worth of content, it is the audience who writhe in pain over Blessy’s ‘labour’ of love.

Kalimannu is that point of realisation for the Malayali audience that the director of some of the most poetic films in recent times (Kazcha, Thanmathra, Brahmaram, and Pranayam) has, but, feet of clay.