Sudheesh Shankar, the debutante director of the new Dileep cinema 'Villaliveeran' has more reasons to worry than one. The movie has n't managed any good commercial opening and the critical reviews are also not favourable for the movie. Add to that certain Buddhist groups has asked to ban the film for showing its religious symbols in a bad light. The movie also features one of its songs 'Cindralle Chandame' displaying Dileep in Buddha's garb meditating under the tree of enlightenment-a Bodhyvriksham'. He wakes up to see a beauty and jumps into song and dance.

Facing fierce allegations, director Sudheesh Shankar maintains that he had no plans to insult any religion.Here the lead character is positioned as one who lives a life just like the Buddha, renouncing wordly pleasures. He points out about many other instances in cinema where actors are dressed up as gods. Sudheesh says he didn't receive any formal complaint and had learned about this only from the media.

Interestingly the original title of the movie was 'Buddhettan' which was later changed to avoid similar criticisms.