Vinoy Thomas, a Kerala Sahitya Akademi award-winning author, has stirred controversy with his remarks about Thunchath Ezhuthachan, a pivotal figure in the Bhakti movement and often regarded as the 'father of modern Malayalam language'. During a lecture in Kannur, commemorating the 140th anniversary of Deepika newspaper, Thomas offered an alternative perspective on the evolution of the Malayalam language, emphasizing the contributions of Christian missionaries and the blending of foreign languages with primitive Malayalam due to trading influences. However, his assertion that there is no proof of Ezhuthachan's existence or literary contributions has led to heated debates on social media and within literary circles. While Thomas also discussed the impact of Malabar migration and the cultivation of rubber and tapioca, his comments on Ezhuthachan garnered the most attention. Following the backlash, Thomas apologized via social media for his remarks.