Malayalam film industry did its ‘reputation’ no harm as it maintained its time-tested ‘strategic’ silence and indifference as the freedom of speech of one of its own member was put to sword by a political outfit.
Even days after a general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asked noted film-maker Kamal to leave the country for Pakistan over his perceived views on the national anthem, the big and influential lot in the tinsel town has chosen to remain mute.
However, the ever-buzzing social media meant it was left with no place to hide as trolls and satirical comments piled up over the silence of the leading lights of Malayalam film industry for what social media critics dubbed as sheer opportunism and fear of rubbing the powers that be the wrong way.
Netizens lost no time taking to task a “superstar” known for his penchant for writing blogs on social issues. Why was there no blog on the unfair treatment meted out to a fraternity member was the common question posed to him. Social media was awash with quotes from his last blog in which he rhetorically asked people as to why they cribbed about waiting in queues in front of banks and ATMs in the wake of demonetisation, while they patiently lined up before Bevco outlets.
Neither did social media spare another superstar who was vocal on social issues to remain mum on the Kamal episode. Young actors, who are otherwise active on social media, also felt the fury of social media critics for the same reason.
Even as the industry remained a mute spectator collectively, a theatre artiste-turned-film actor stood out for his courage to speak up. Alencier Ley Lopez, who won the hearts of the audience through memorable roles in Njan Steve Lopez and Maheshinte Prathikaram , staged a street play at Kasaragod, stating that he could not remain silent as an actor when one is asked to leave the country for airing his views. He reminded society that he has every right as any other person to live in the country where he was born. The message would not have been lost on the industry either.
