My mother was ignored by her colleagues, says Adoor Bhavani's son

Adoor (Kerala) Oct 27 : Rajiv Kumar's displeasure over the absence of Association of Malayalam Movie Artiste (AMMA) members at the funeral of his mother, actress Adoor Bhavani, has sparked a row in the film industry.

Adoor Bhavani died Sunday. She was 85.

"Three or four of them came the day she passed away but none of them was there during the funeral that took place here yesterday (Monday). This is an unpardonable act by AMMA who completely ignored my mother after she passed away," said a grieving Rajiv.

In her career spanning more than five decades, Adoor had acted in more than 500 films.

She came into films by accident -- she was visiting a shooting location along with her sister Adoor Pankajam when popular actor Thikurishi spotted her and offered her a role in "Sheriyo Thetto". She accepted and there was no looking back for her after that.

In 1969, she got the state award for the second best actress for her performance in "Kallichellama". Some of her memorable films include "Mudiyanaya Puthran" and "Thulabharam". She was last seen in "Oru CBI Diary Kurripu".

Film director Vinayan, also the general secretary of the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) which has been feuding with AMMA for sometime, said that Rajiv's grief is understandable.

"AMMA should have ensured that some of the big names should have participated in the last rites of the veteran actress. In recent times, the state saw the huge presence of AMMA members when noted film personalities like Lohitha Das, Rajan P. Dev and Murali passed away. The arrival of those who worked with the deceased certainly is smoothening for the grieving family," said Vinayan.

B. Unnikrishnan, general secretary of Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), also feels that there should have been more participation of AMMA members.

"Kumar's outburst is certainly understandable because she was a very senior actress," he said.

Edavela Babu, secretary of AMMA, told IANS that they don't want to be drawn into any controversy.

"AMMA was represented. Our former secretary T.P. Madhavan, veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnanama, executive member of AMMA Maniyan Pillai Raju and myself were there from 12 to 2.30 p.m. yesterday (Monday)," said Babu.

He said they left early and "the local legislator is aware why we left an hour before the funeral".