Salim Kumar, the celebrated film artist who had been honoured with the National Award for the Best Actor and a number of national and State honours was snubbed and humiliated by the CPI(M)-led Kerala Government, according to film and theatre artists in the State.
Salim Kumar, who had essayed hundreds of memorable roles in films that include the 2010 movie “Abu, the Son of Adam” (for which he was honoured with the national Award for Best Actor) and Achan Urangatha Veedu (The House where the Father Doesn’t Sleep) the 2005 film which earned him the Second Best Actor Award for portraying the role of a helpless father of the victim of a sexually molested girl is known for his links with the Congress Party.
A TV and stage show performer who made spectators laugh and cry with his scintillating performance, Salim Kumar had graduated into the big league of Malayalam film industry only because of his talents. But Mohammed Majeed Kamaludeen, chairman, Kerala State Film Academy, who is the main organiser of the Government sponsored International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2021) had other ideas.
“He and other organisers conveniently ignored Salim Kumar while preparing the list of invitees for the Kochi-leg of the IFFK which got going on Wednesday. Due to Covid-19 related issues, the IFFK is being held in two editions. The Thiruvananthapuram leg was between February 9 and 14 while the Kochi edition is during February 17 to 21.
Kamaludeen denied reports that alleged Salim Kumar was not invited for the festival. “Organising Committee decided to give a chance to youngsters and hence we included new generation film personalities among those who would light the lamp on the occasion,” Kamaludeen told reporters. He also said that the festival cannot be held without the presence pf Salim Kumar.
But the versatile actor told The Pioneer from Paravoor that he has not yet received any invitation from the organising committee. “I am least bothered whether they include me or not among the VIPs who light the lamp. But a formal invitation would have been sufficient for me. They wanted to keep me out because of political reasons. It is known to all and many persons are afraid to tell it openly,” said Salim Kumar.
The incident comes to light within days of Rajasenan, a reputed Malayalam movie maker, who has a string of hots to his credit, charged that Malayalam film industry has been hijacked by Love Jihad elements.
In a no holds barred attack on some quarters, the soft spoken Rajasenan said that move industry in Kerala has been usurped by a cabal which has vested interests.
Kamaludeen was in the news recently when the letter he wrote to cultural minister A K Balan asking the latter to regularise the services of Left-leaning casual staff in the Film Academy was released in the Legislative Assembly by Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala. Kamaludeen said that his letter was to ensure film professionals with leanings to Sangh Parivar do not enter the precincts of Malayalam film industry.
Salim Kumar said the Thiruvananthapuram edition of the Film Festival was inaugurated by 76-year-old Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the presence of 79-year old Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
Politicisation ofMalayalam film industry has given rise to many lead artists expressing their solidarity with either the Congreess or the BJP. Krishnakumar, the lead TV artist had joined the BJP in presence of party president J P Nadda while Ramesh Pisharady and Dharman Bolghatty declared their support to the Congress in a recent function. “We are joining the Congress because the party has many leaders who can laugh,” said Pisharady.