Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Sreenivasan: script should not take a backseat to star value

Actor Sreenivasan at a meet-the-press programme at Thiruvananthapuram Press Club on Monday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “A good script is a fundamental element contributing to the success of a film. It should not take a backseat to star value,” says actor and director Sreenivasan who has turned producer with his latest film Katha Parayumpol.

Participating in a Meet-the-Press programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club here on Monday, Mr. Sreenivasan expressed concern over the unprofessional approach in the Malayalam film world that has resulted in films that fail to inspire.

“The obsession with star value has reduced the significance of the script in a film. The story is often the last concern. Instead of the cast being chosen on the basis of the script, the evolution of the theme is dictated by the availability of actors. As a result, most of the scripts today are trash,” he said.

Mr. Sreenivasan said that Malayalam cinema was yet to be liberated from this trend, though films in Hindi and Tamil had become more professional of late.

He said actors were also to blame for the situation. “Most of them are driven by commercial gains and lack talent and professionalism.”

He added, “It is 30 years since I started acting in films, yet my assets are not even one per cent of what actors who have been in the field for five years have amassed. But I have no regrets.”

Mr. Sreenivasan said actors should hone their skills on stage before entering the film world.

“Using inexperienced actors is too big a risk for producers. The stage is a good training ground for budding actors.”

Asked about his new role as producer for ‘Katha Parayumpol,’ he said he had taken up the challenge for a change. “The film is based on a concept that struck me unexpectedly”

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