Mohanlal hails Satheesan's maiden budget as Malayalam cinema gets a boost
Thiruvananthapuram, June 19
Actor Mohanlal on Friday welcomed the Kerala Budget 2026-27's major push for Malayalam cinema, describing the decision to look into the long-standing demand of giving it an industry status as a step that would give the film sector new energy, growth and global opportunities.
The government's film package, announced by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, in his maiden Budget, states that the government will implement comprehensive projects to develop the Malayalam cinema sector.
"As part of this, the J.C. Daniel International Film City - Chitranagaram will be established in Kochi. Granting formal industry status to cinema, creating a permanent venue for the international film festival, forming robust anti-piracy cells, and cultivating an environment to attract premier national and international film productions are targeted through this project. An amount of Rs 100 crore is earmarked for this endeavour," Satheesan, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said.
Welcoming the move, Mohanlal said the decision would provide a major boost to the Malayalam film industry and bring new hope to thousands of people associated with cinema.
Through his social media platforms, he thanked Chief Minister Satheesan and Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunath for taking the initiative.
Industry status for cinema has been a long-standing demand of the film fraternity.
The move is expected to help filmmakers access institutional support, improve production facilities, and create more organised employment opportunities.
The Budget also announced the creation of a dedicated Anti-Piracy Cell to tackle one of the biggest challenges faced by producers and distributors in the digital era.
The cultural thrust of the Budget extended beyond cinema with the proposed M.T. Vasudevan Nair Cultural Park in Kozhikode.
An allocation of Rs 50 crore has been made for the project aimed at preserving Kerala's literary and artistic traditions.
The park will include a library, modern theatre, art gallery, history museum and literature and language museum.
Facilities will also be created to showcase Kerala's traditional art forms, including Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Theyyam, Thullal, Oppana, Mappilappattu, Margamkali, and tribal art forms.
The Budget also honoured personalities who shaped Malayalam cinema and music.
A Music Academy will be established in Thrissur in memory of legendary composer Johnson Master, with Rs 5 crore allocated for the project.
An amount of Rs 1 crore has also been set aside for a memorial for actor Salim Kumar, whose performances left a lasting imprint on Malayalam cinema.
The film package comes at a time when Malayalam cinema has earned national and international recognition for its storytelling and creative strength.
The government's latest move seeks to convert that creative capital into an organised industry with infrastructure, investment and global reach.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally! Industry status was overdue. Malayalam cinema makes films with soul—look at 'Aattam' or 'Kaathal'. But we still lack proper sound stages and post-production facilities. Hope this means more Hollywood co-productions coming to Kerala. Also, the Johnson Master Music Academy in Thrissur is a beautiful tribute—he composed for so many classics. 🎬✨
Let's not get carried away. While the intent is good, Kerala's track record with mega projects is mixed. Remember the 'Smart City' in Kochi? Groundbreaking delays, cost overruns. Also, 100 crore for a film city in today's economy is not that huge—needs private investment too. But yes, anti-piracy cell is a must. Digital piracy is killing small distributors. Let's see how they enforce it.
As a film student from Kerala, this feels like validation. Malayalam cinema is our soft power—from 'Kireedom' to 'Manjummel Boys', we tell stories that travel. Industry status means we can finally get bank loans without personal guarantees. And the M.T. Vasudevan Nair Cultural Park in Kozhikode? That man's literature shaped my childhood. This budget has soul and substance both. 💛
Good for Mollywood, but what about other cultural sectors? 50 crore for a park and only 5 crore for a music academy? Seems lopsided. Also, the Salim Kumar memorial for 1 crore—he's still alive and active! Maybe wait for that. And anti-piracy: most piracy happens via Telegram groups and WhatsApp. Will the cell have cyber forensic experts? Hope it's not just a political posting.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.