Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 31 (NationPress) What started as a routine government call for suggestions regarding a name and logo for a new brandy from the state-owned Malabar Distilleries has unexpectedly transformed into one of Kerala’s most delightful instances of political humor.

Bevco’s (Kerala State Beverages Corporation) offer of a modest Rs 10,000 prize may seem trivial, yet the creative potential it sparked was anything but.

As anticipated, social media embraced the invitation, showcasing a master class in intricate humor, political undertones, and the unique wit characteristic of Kerala.

Initially, the most favored suggestion, Captain, seems innocuous. However, a deeper look reveals its clear intent.

In Kerala’s political jargon, “Captain” is not a nautical term—it is the well-known nickname of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Commenters provided a refreshingly serious rationale: if a government-produced liquor can be dubbed Jawan, why not Captain?

After all, progression in rank is only natural.

The irony lay not just in the name, but in the collective wink and nod that accompanied it.

The humor continued to evolve.

Variants like Kappithan and Double Chankan emerged, each imbued with its own cultural and political significance.

Then arrived the K brigade—K Brandy, K Kick, K Rasam, Kerala Lahari.

To the unknowing, this may seem like mere branding enthusiasm.

However, for the Kerala audience, it was a cheeky jab at the Chief Minister’s penchant for prefixing initiatives with a bold “K”—from K-Rail to K-FON—as if governance were a meticulously curated product line.

The satire intensified with the mention of Potti.

Borrowed from popular culture and enhanced through the viral hook of the song “Pottiye Kettiye”, the suggestion quickly morphed into Pottiye Ketti, Potti (S), and other inventive variations.

Here, the reference struck a deeper chord.

For many, Potti unmistakably alluded to Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime suspect in the Sabarimala gold theft case—a controversy that has stubbornly lingered in public memory.

Suggestions like Gold Theft Brandy and Sakhavu (Comrade) Brandy emerged, merging scandal with sarcasm in equal measure.

As enthusiasm grew, all restraint was cast aside. Red Volunteers, Commi Brandy, and ultimately just Sakhavu surfaced, ensuring that ideology, symbolism, and spirits were thoroughly intermingled.

Some even provided marketing tips, tongue firmly in cheek, suggesting that showcasing the Chief Minister’s photograph on the label could boost sales—guaranteeing brand recall.

The outcome was less a naming contest and more a spontaneous, crowd-sourced comedy column.

Bevco may have anticipated a few earnest branding ideas; what it received instead was a reflection of Kerala’s political landscape, complete with punchlines.

In attempting to name a bottle of brandy, the public ended up bottling something far more potent: a distilled essence of Kerala’s irreverent political humor, best enjoyed neat, and preferably with a sense of irony.