Following the huge uproar over the performance of ‘Lalisom’, actor Mohanlal’s music troupe at the opening ceremony of the 35th National Games, the actor on Monday said that he will return all the money that was paid by the government. In an e-mail to the government, he said the amount of Rs.1.63 crore that was paid to the band will be returned.
“The government approached me at the last minute and asked me to perform the ‘Lalisom’ show at the opening ceremony, after a musical event that was earlier planned did not take off. For the past three weeks, I and my team have been working hard to bring this on stage. I am pained by the allegations that have been levelled against the band. I hope my returning the money will put an end to all the controversy over this matter,” the actor said in the email.
Reiterating his stand that he did not personally accept any remuneration for the programme, he said that he had to pay the technical crew and the celebrity singers.
In an attached document of the expenditure incurred, Rs.46.5 lakh has been listed for song rehearsal, orchestration, recording, and remuneration to technicians.
Remuneration
As remuneration to celebrity singers and four dancers, Rs.52 lakh is listed. In addition to the total expense incurred of Rs.141.45 lakh, an additional amount of Rs.65 lakh was fixed for a hologram production which did not materialise, which takes the total cost of the band to Rs.2.06 crore.
Minister’s response
Speaking to the media, Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that someone like Mohanlal should not have been treated this way. Earlier in the day, at a press interaction held at the National Games Village, the Minister said that the technical committee that selected the band and the actor himself would respond to the controversies.
The technical committee was headed by film-maker Priyadarshan.
‘Not an expert’
“The whole inaugural function is being reduced to the Lalisom show and criticisms are being levelled. We don’t have the expertise to judge art. Let the public decide on that. Any work of art will have opposing views. Even G. Sankarakurup’s poetry has evoked such extreme reactions,” he said.
To a question on his personal opinion about the programme, he asked, “How can I comment without watching the entire show?”
