With Mohanlal As President, Actor Dileep’s Reinstatement To Kerala Film Body Takes A Political Turn

A controversial move by the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA) to readmit actor Dileep in its ranks after he was expelled on charges of hiring a couple of persons to outrage the modesty of an actress has taken a political twist in Kerala. The decision has been criticised by politicians of Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) and Bharatiya Janata Party, while a few legislators who have links with Mollywood have welcomed it.

On the other hand, the All India Youth Federation (AIYF), an arm of the Communist Party of India (CPI), burning an effigy of popular actor Mohanlal in protest against the decision to call back actor to the association.

Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi reported that AIYF members took out a protest march to the Film Chamber of Commerce in Ernakulam against taking back of Dileep. The federation has also threatened to stop shooting of Mohanlal’s films in Ernakulam district.

Mohanlal is being targeted because the decision to take back Dileep into the association was taken after he became AMMA President.

The decision has led to four actresses, including the victim besides Reema Kilingal, Ramya Nambisan and Geethu Mohandas, quitting the association in revolt. Their decision has been backed by some actors like Prithviraj.

Dileep had allegedly hired a couple of people to outrage the modesty of the actress as she had reportedly opposed the actor’s second marriage with another actress. The actress was abducted and molested in a car for two hours with the accused taking photographs of their act. Dileep had married his co-star Kavya Madhavan after divorcing his wife and another co-star Manju Warrier.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has slammed the move as “male chauvinistic attitude” and has been joined by his colleagues PWD minister G Sudhakaran and Fisheries Minister Mercykutty Amma. Kerala Women’s Commission M C Josephine has come down hard on the decision, though a couple of state legislators K B Ganesh and Mukesh alongwith Member of Parliament Innocent - all part of Mollywood, have backed AMMA decision.