₹500 crore tags seen as mark of quality, bad films draw crowds at dawn: Adoor Gopalakrishnan

Chengannur: Director Adoor Gopalakrishnan has questioned the claim that ₹500 crore was spent on a film, suggesting it may either be an exaggeration intended to mislead the audience or money wasted on unnecessary expenses. He was speaking at the inauguration of the 13th edition of the 'Pampa' (People for Performing Arts and More) Literary Festival – Festival of Dialogues.

"If such a large amount has been spent, then taxes should be paid accordingly. But that is not happening. When we hear that ₹500 crore was spent, we assume the film must be good. People today don’t watch better films. If it’s genuinely better, it is often considered not worth watching. On the day a terrible film is released, there are people who rush to see it at dawn," Adoor remarked.

He also expressed concern over the cultural impact of social media and reels, stating that they are contributing to the gradual erosion of cultural values. He pointed out that although some of the best literary works in India are being published in Malayalam, people are not reading them.

He emphasised the importance of teaching children Malayalam and ensuring they grow up with an understanding of traditional art forms like Kathakali and Koodiyattam. "They should be encouraged to read stories, poems, and newspapers. Right now, children are hardly engaging with literature. There is no serious study of it anymore," he said.