Kerala Government decides to go ahead with inviting Mohanlal as chief guest for State Film Awards function

The controversy was triggered after award-winning director Biju said in a Facebook post that he would not participate in the Kerala State Film Awards distribution event if Mohanlal was the chief guest

Actor Mohanlal (Photo | EPS/A Sanesh)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the film fraternity was beginning to find itself on two platforms over the choice of a chief guest for the Kerala State Film Awards function, the state government has decided to go ahead with plans to invite actor Mohanlal.

Announcing the decision on Tuesday, Culture Minister A K Balan said, “The state government will invite actor Mohanlal as the chief guest for this year’s Kerala State Film Awards function.”

Following the valedictory function of the 11th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala held here, Balan told reporters he will invite Mohanlal officially on Wednesday.

“There is no merit in any sort of controversy. Mohanlal has taken part in the state awards functions earlier too as the chief guest. Not only Mohanlal, many others, including Tamil actor Surya and Manju Warrier, were invited as chief guests in previous awards functions,” he said.

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actor Mohanlal from attending Kerala Film Award ceremony

The Minister termed baseless the demand by a section of film personalities not to invite the actor.
“There is nothing wrong in inviting Mohanlal as the chief guest. Even Indrans who won the Best Actor award has no disagreement on this. I hadn’t invited Mohanlal earlier. But there was an unwanted controversy,” Balan said.

Function on Aug 8

The award function will be held at the Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on August 8. The controversy was triggered after award-winning director Biju said in a Facebook post that he would not participate in the Kerala State Film Awards distribution event if Mohanlal was the chief guest.

Later, many artists, technicians, media persons and cultural heavyweights signed a statement endorsing the sentiment that people from the film industry should not be invited as chief guests. Meanwhile, sources alleged it was in protest against the actor, the new AMMA president, for the decision to reinstate actor Dileep into the association even after he was removed following his arrest in the actor assault case.