The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Thilakan for one organisation to highlight issues of film fraternity

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Monday, Jun 25, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Thilakan for one organisation to highlight issues of film fraternity

Staff Reporter

Clear-cut message: Actor Thilakan along with film director M.A. Nishad, Seema and Lakshmi Sharma at a face-to-face programme in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Malayalam film fraternity needs just one organisation to take care of the needs of those working in the field, actor Thilakan has said.

Participating in a ‘face-to-face’ programme organised by the Trivandrum Press Club here on Sunday, the actor expressed concern over the mushrooming of organisations. “The film fraternity needs just one organisation. If we stand united, we can even fight for our genuine issues,” he said.

Thilakan said the crisis in the film industry commenced with the setting up of various organisations 10-12 years ago. “The hugging and shaking of hands among the film personalities are just pretensions. There is personal rivalry and grudge and ego prevails among the minds of these personalities,” he added.

The actor said he still had difference of opinion with the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). “I love what I am doing and it is the profession that helped me reach this stage,” the actor said.

Thilakan, Seema, Lekshmi Sharma and Thomas, who acted in the film ‘Nagaram,’ were present at the programme. The film highlights the problems faced by a village where garbage from the city is dumped. Thilakan said he had acted in the film despite his ill-health as it highlights a social issue. “It is sad that people are not coming forward to take up such issue despite the media highlighting it,” Mr. Thilakan said. The veteran actor hoped that the film would lead to a people’s movement against garbage. Film is a medium that attracts people the most and should not be seen as a channel for entertainment alone.

Actor Seema, who is staging a comeback portrays the role of ‘Chinthamani Ammal,’ said she was lucky to get a good role. “Technically, there are a lot of changes in the industry but the friendship and bond between actors continues to be the same,” she said.

Telugu actor Lekshmi Sharma, who plays ‘Mayamma’ in the film, said although she was getting offers, she wanted to be selective.

Director, M. A. Nishad said the film was aimed at the family audience. The film is more thematic and the thrust is not on the protagonists. The challenge was to discuss the theme in two hours. Commercial elements had to be incorporated without diluting the seriousness of theme, he said. As many as 33 actors, including Kalabhavan Mani and Harishree Ashokan feature in the film.

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