She steals the fried fish her mother cooks for the men in the house and says that doing so is not morally wrong because Padachon (creator-god) would understand that girls are not given enough food.
[9] Since the drama deals with gender justice in the context of Islam, it was opposed, and Memunda Higher secondary school's participation in the completion was successfully stalled by religio-political orthodoxy and conservatives invoking faith issues.
[10] Subsequently, a whataboutery counter-play named Kithabile Koora was also performed on the Malayalam stage, with a female character who seeks freedom of religion.
One of the Malayalam theatre activists, Abbas Kalathode, while not enthusiastic about the counter-play either, criticized Mangalassery's Kithaab for not considering a number of recent far-reaching changes in the Muslim community.
Mangalassery disagreed, replying: "It is not correct to say that the Muslim community has registered a steady progress in social life.
[3] Activists and writers including K Satchidanandan and S Hareesh voiced their opposition against exclusion of Kithaab at the state festival.
[5][6] Cinematographer Prathap Joseph conducted a social media campaign claiming that the withdrawal of the play was a "threat to renaissance values and freedom of expression".
A. Santha Kumar, playwright, wrote via Facebook that "the school has washed its hands by withdrawing the play and surrendering to the dictates of religious leaders.
Kumar asked why those who speak volumes about "renaissance values" were silent about the isolation of Mangalassery at the hands of "minority fundamentalism".