Movies and politics are both close to the Malayalis’ heart but when it comes to a choice between the two they make no bones about picking the former, the BJP learnt this the hard way on Friday.

There was an outpouring of anger against the BJP in Kerala when the party’s statewide shutdown clashed with the release of a much-awaited movie of Mohanlal, the superstar who has been enthralling the audience for decades. Many BJP workers were among those who lashed out, threatening to turn against the party if their favourite actor’s film was affected.

Malayalis, who seldom mind a few extra holidays to stay at home and enjoy a good meal and a few drinks, could not digest the shutdown that affected their plans of catching a first-day show of Odiyan, based on the legend of the Odiyan clan of spaceshifters who can change shape and assume animal forms.

Many fans shredded the BJP on its Facebook page and warned against any disruption. The party had called the shutdown to protest the self-immolation of a man at the BJP’s protest venue near the Sabarimala shrine.

The BJP claimed that Venugopalan Nair was a devotee of Lord Ayyappan, the presiding deity of Sabarimala, and had “martyred” himself to protest against the government, which is implementing the Supreme Court order lifting the ban on the entry of women of childbearing age into the temple. The BJP has been at the forefront of protests against the court order.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan contested the BJP’s claims and said Nair had nothing to do with the Sabarimala protests. “A magistrate and a doctor recorded the dying declaration of Nair, who never said anything about Sabarimala. The party’s central leadership needs to take serious note of this,” Vijayan said.

However, while going forward with the shutdown the BJP failed to foresee the backlash it would face later in the day.

Mohanlal fans, including many BJP workers, warned the party against any impediment to the screening of Odiyan, for which Mohanlal put himself through a rigorous fitness regime and even shaved off his trademark moustache.

With road transport coming to a halt because of the shutdown, Mohanlal fans had to arrange for vehicles to reach theatres.

Facebook user Sayooj Sadanandan commented on the BJP’s social media page: “All Lalettan (elder brother Lal) fans should react against this hartal…. I suspect this is Sangh parivar’s conspiracy to prevent this film from entering the Rs 500 crore club.”

Negative reviews did not deter the fans from expressing their rage at the BJP and thronging cinemas across Kerala.

Another user, P.K. Sureshkumar, wrote: “This BJP is trying to torpedo Mohanlal’s biggest release. Why is this party that doesn’t even have half the number of Mohanlal fans trying to derail the film?”

Ashok Kumar, who described himself as a BJP supporter, wrote: “I am a BJP worker. But I must say this is a disgusting ‘hartal’. I won’t vote for BJP anymore.”

Commented Sreenitha Sree: “Coconuts will fall on your heads (a Malayalam usage to express sheer disgust)…. If anything impedes the release of Odiyan, that will be your final game, you idiots.”