Criticism lodged against Adoor Gopalakrishnan due to comments regarding movie directors from underrepresented social groups
Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has found himself at the centre of a heated debate following his comments about the Kerala State Film Development Corporation's (KSFDC) initiative to provide funding to filmmakers from marginalized communities.
At the Kerala Film Policy Conclave, Gopalakrishnan expressed concerns about the large grants, up to Rs 1.5 crore, being given to first-time filmmakers from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST), and women communities without requiring prior filmmaking training. He suggested reducing the funding amount to Rs 50 lakh and emphasized the need for rigorous training for all filmmakers.
These remarks have sparked controversy and debate across political figures. Higher Education Minister R Bindu criticized Adoor’s stance as unjust to historically excluded groups, while Minister V N Vasavan defended him, saying his comments were misread. Other leaders like Congress leader K Muraleedharan and MP K Radhakrishnan condemned the remarks for discouraging marginalized filmmakers.
A Dalit activist, Dinu Veyil, has filed formal complaints with the Kerala State SC/ST Commission and the Museum Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram, alleging that Gopalakrishnan's comments were discriminatory and violated provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Veyil accused Gopalakrishnan of making sweeping generalizations that paint SC/ST individuals as dishonest or prone to misuse public funds.
Veyil cited Section 3(1)(u) and Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, arguing that Gopalakrishnan's remarks could incite prejudice and amount to public humiliation of an entire community. The Kerala Police, after legal review, found that Adoor's remarks did not meet the legal threshold to constitute an offense under any law, including the SC/ST Act, and decided not to proceed with filing a case against him.
Adoor clarified that his comments were not aimed at any particular community but intended to ensure proper use of public funds and uphold quality filmmaking standards. The debate highlights tensions between government support for marginalized filmmakers and concerns about accountability and training in the film industry funding process.
Kerala's Minister for Cultural Affairs, Saji Cherian, defended the state's inclusive film policy regarding the grant for marginalized filmmakers, describing it as a historic corrective measure to address decades of exclusion in the Malayalam film industry.
The Kerala government's film grant scheme was introduced as part of a broader effort to democratize the filmmaking landscape. Despite the controversy, the minister made it clear that the initiative would continue, standing firmly by the policy. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, however, has not issued a public response to the complaints filed against his remarks.
- The debate on the Kerala State Film Development Corporation's funding initiative for marginalized communities has extended into the realm of politics, with some political figures supporting Adoor Gopalakrishnan's concerns about policy-and-legislation, while others criticize his comments for being discriminatory and discouraging towards these groups.
- Despite the controversy surrounding Adoor Gopalakrishnan's remarks about the large grants given to first-time filmmakers from marginalized communities and his suggestion for rigorous training, the Kerala government remains committed to the general-news of democratizing the filmmaking landscape through the film grant scheme.
