Kochi: Veteran Malayalam film actor-scriptwriter Sreenivasan has come out in support of coworker Dileep in the sensational actress-attack case. The claim that the arraigned popular actor gave Rs 1.5 crore to another accused 'Pulsar' Suni is incredulous, Sreenivasan said.
"The Dileep I know won’t spend even 1.5 paise for such a matter," Sreenivasan said. He was speaking exclusively to Manorama News in a promotional event for the movie 'Kuttimama'. The interview will be telecast on Tuesday at 7.30 pm.
In his first interview after his recent hospitalisation, the senior artiste came out openly against Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). (The actor was admitted to the hospital last January after experiencing severe respiratory issues.)
Sreenivasan rejected WCC’s claims for equal pay and allegation of exploitation in the industry.
WCC’s need and motives are still unclear, he said.
"There is no exploitation of women in cinema. Men and women are equal. Pay depends on a star's market value. How many male actors earn as much as Nayantara?”
The actor used the analogy of a 100 metre sprint to compare the gender equity in Malayalam film industry. “The world record in 100 m sprint for men is nine seconds whereas the world record for their female counterpart is 11 seconds. There is a difference. In such a scenario, how is equality possible?”
“These statements are not directed to destroy any organisation. I'll refrain from speaking more since some matters need to be discussed within certain limits," he said.
Sreenivasan is a national and state-award winning scriptwriter and actor. His movies- Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, Mazhayethu Munpe, Vadakkunokkiyantram, Sandesham and Nadodikkattu sequels- are popular amongst Malayalam audience for its humour element and fine writing.
The actor is known to spark controversies with his vocal opinions. Miscreants poured black oil on his house at Pookod when he supported Dileep in 2017. His comments that organ transplantation was a scam run by hospitals and drug mafia also invited controversy when a heart-recipient slammed him for speaking on the basis of false information. Sreenivasan's relationship with celebrated actor Mohanlal had soured after the release of his satire movie 'Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar Thaaram' which took a jibe at superstars and their tantrums.
AMMA's stand
Actor Dileep was arrested in July 2017 in connection with the actress assault and abduction case which took place on February 17 that year. Though mainstream actors such as Ganesh Kumar and Mohanlal had come out in support of Dileep initially, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) asked Dileep to resign from the association after the arrest.
AMMA's decision to take the actor back into its fold after his release had sparked a deep controversy in the Malayalam industry especially from the WCC, which was formed after a few women artistes split from the former body following its support to Dileep in the actress-assault case. Dileep has stated that he would return to the association only after his innocence is proven.
Case status
Last week, the Supreme Court had stayed the trial in the actress-attack case for considering the actor's plea seeking a copy of the files in a memory card, deemed as a major evidence in the case. Mukul Rohatgi, the senior counsel appearing for Dileep, contends that the memory card is a document but the prosecution says its a material which does not come under the IT Act and cannot be handed over.
The Kerala government will press for framing charges against Dileep in the trial court after the pending plea in the apex court is decided.
