'Not singling out Mohanlal': Prakash Raj says he didn't sign memorandum
"I have neither signed such a memorandum nor heard of it," he said in a video
"I have neither signed such a memorandum nor heard of it," he said in a video
"I have neither signed such a memorandum nor heard of it," he said in a video
"I have neither signed such a memorandum nor heard of it," he said in a video
Actor Prakash Raj on Tuesday posted a video on Twitter and said that he was not singling out Mohanlal, and that fake news was being circulated. The video comes in the wake of recent news that a petition was signed by over 100 artists, including Prakash Raj, against the Kerala state government's decision to invite Mohnlal as the chief guest at the state film awards function.
“There are rumours that I have signed a memorandum against Mohanlal ji. This is false. I have neither signed such a memorandum nor heard of it. Yes, I have my difference with the decisions AMMA had taken, and I have very clearly told my stance. I do not accept it. It was insensitive to have taken such a decision. But this news that I am singling out Mohanlal ji, such a statured actor, and that I have been a part of signing a memorandum, is false,” Prakash Raj said in the video.
On Monday, key members of the Malayalam film fraternity and cultural icons signed a petition against the state government's move to call an artiste as chief guest at the awards function. The statement read, “The Kerala state film award is the highest recognition given by a state and hence this award should be given to them in an atmosphere suited to the artists. The stage should host a simple function where the chief minister himself presents the awards in the presence of cultural minister. Inviting a chief guest is not the right thing and undervalue the achievement of the award winners”.
The statement, however, did not mention Mohanlal by name. Earlier, Dr Biju, a jury member, had come out against the move. The director had slammed the decision, pointing out that the culture minister seemed to be out of touch with the current developments in the Malayalam film industry. “The chief guests at the venue are the award winners, and also the chief minister who will present the awards. Why should another star be invited to the function?” He said it was inappropriate to make the superstar, who does not have any connection with the awards of the year, the chief guest.
Writer N.S. Madhavan, director-cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, actress Rima Kallingal are among those who signed the petition.
Mohanlal has been facing ire of the public and members of the Women in Cinema Collective after his decision to reinstate actor Dileep into the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). Dileep is an accused in the actress assault case and was expelled from AMMA after his arrest.