Claiming that the “arrows of criticism” after the publication of the Hema Committee report are being directed solely at the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), veteran actor and former AMMA president Mohanlal on Saturday, August 31, 2024, stated that “the entire industry is answerable” for the issues highlighted in the comprehensive report.
In his first public interaction since the release of the report on August 19 and the sudden dissolution of the AMMA executive committee earlier this week, Mr. Mohanlal made it clear that he had not been avoiding the pressing issues. Referring to a hiatus in his activity, he explained that personal commitments had kept him from addressing the concerns earlier.
“People have been asking where Mohanlal disappeared when such an issue happened. I haven’t run away from anything. I had personal commitments in various cities and later had to be with my wife who underwent a surgery. The final mix of my debut directorial Barroz was also ongoing,” Mohanlal elaborated. “The release has now been postponed due to these issues. I don’t know how to speak authoritatively. So, I don’t do press conferences usually,” he added, reflecting his hesitance to engage with media on such a large scale.
While Mr. Mohanlal focused largely on the larger context in his initial remarks, he appeared somewhat elusive when responding to specific questions from the press. The session was unexpectedly cut short after the actor addressed just a couple of inquiries, providing no solid responses to either.
“Issues that are happening in the other sectors are part of cinema too. I welcome the Hema Committee report. I had presented myself before the committee and answered all their questions. The entire industry should answer for the report. It is not right to crucify AMMA or an individual for each and every matter.
. We decided to dissolve the committee after consultations with lawyers and seniors as most of the criticism was being unnecessarily directed at AMMA,” asserted Mohanlal.
Emphasizing the broader repercussions, Mohanlal illustrated his concern over the ongoing criticisms, stating that the Malayalam film industry, which has been “built up through hard work” and has earned international acclaim, is currently facing a risk of “destruction” due to the incessant attacks over the past week.
“Thousands of people depend on this industry for survival. Now, this industry is facing destruction. I request you to not focus on us too much and destroy this industry. Those who are found to have done wrong should be punished,” he pleaded. “Actors are sentimental beings, who can get excited or even shattered by small issues. What has happened is deeply painful,” he expressed, indicating the emotional toll the turmoil has had on the industry stakeholders.
Responding to questions about the presence of any powerful factions within the Malayalam film industry, Mohanlal firmly stated that he is “not aware of” such groups. He also addressed the call for transparency in the committee’s findings. When asked whether the names of the perpetrators, which were redacted from the Hema Committee report, should be made public, he indicated support but deferred the ultimate decision to the government.
“He said the report speaks about a lot of possibilities to improve the industry. ‘Let this be a big movement which starts from Kerala. I hope it happens in every other field,’ he said.
To most of the questions posed by the media, Mohanlal consistently responded with phrases such as, “What can I say about this?” highlighting his perceived limitations in influencing the decisions or making definitive statements about the ongoing issues.
“If you ask me more questions, I won’t be able to answer because these are things beyond my control,” he concluded, reiterating his constrained capacity in addressing the pressing concerns at hand.
The Hema Committee report, which delves into various issues within the Malayalam cinema industry, has undoubtedly sparked a wave of introspection and responsibility-sharing among its members. As Mohanlal pointed out, while AMMA finds itself at the center of the storm, it is imperative that the broader community reflects on their roles and collectively works towards a sustainable solution, ensuring the well-being and future of the Malayalam film industry.
