Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 6
Legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, presently under fire for his controversial remarks at a film conclave recently, can now breathe easy as the Kerala Police have received legal advice stating that no case can be filed against him in the matter.
According to the legal opinion, Gopalakrishnan's speech did not contain any derogatory statements against SC/ST communities, nor did it suggest that government funds should be stopped or that the disbursement of such funds was inappropriate.
The legal counsel clarified that the filmmaker's comments were part of an opinion expressed during a policy discussion on cinema, and hence, do not warrant criminal action.
Activist Dinu Weyil had on Monday lodged a complaint at a local police station, seeking action against Gopalakrishnan under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Weyil alleged that the filmmaker's remarks were derogatory and suggested that individuals from these communities are prone to corruption.
"He made a blanket statement that tarnishes an entire section of society and implies that people from these communities are thieves," Weyil said.
The controversy erupted on Sunday during the Kerala Film Policy Conclave, where Gopalakrishnan expressed concern over what he described as excessive government funding for debutant filmmakers from SC/ST and women's categories.
"The government is providing Rs 1.5 crore to SC/ST filmmakers. I told the Chief Minister that while the intention is good, such large sums without proper training could lead to corruption. These new filmmakers should be given at least three months of intensive training," he had said.
Even though the legend clarified that he never intended to insult or stereotype anyone, and that his comments stem from his six decades of experience in cinema, Gopalakrishnan came under fire from several quarters, including a few State Ministers.
However, on Wednesday, some women's organisations approached the Kerala State Women's Commission seeking that it should summon him and find out about his remarks on women filmmakers.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Typical Kerala politics! Instead of discussing real issues, we're busy filing cases against legends. Adoor sir has given 60 years to cinema - he knows what he's talking about. Let's focus on improving film education rather than creating controversies.
I'm glad the police saw sense in this matter. As someone new to Indian cinema, I find it concerning how quickly people jump to conclusions. Constructive criticism ≠discrimination. The training suggestion actually makes practical sense.
While I respect Adoor sir's contributions, his comments did come across as insensitive. Maybe he should have used his platform to suggest better implementation rather than questioning the scheme itself. Experience should come with more responsibility.
This whole episode shows how quick we are to cancel people! Adoor sir has mentored so many young filmmakers across communities. His intent was clearly about better utilization of funds, not discrimination. Let's not twist words for political mileage.
As someone from the SC community, I initially felt hurt by his remarks. But after hearing his clarification, I understand his point. We do need proper systems to ensure funds reach deserving candidates. The real issue is corruption, not the communities.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.