Govt steps in for damage control as reports put Chalachitra Academy chairman Ranjith on tightrope

Thiruvananthapuram: With daggers out at the state’s premier Malayalam film body, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, State Minister of Culture and Films Saji Cherian on Saturday said after December 23, things will be sorted out.

"There are some issues and all of them are personal issues and that has not affected the functioning of the Academy. We will meet up with the parties involved in the issue and speak to them separately," said Cherian.

Meanwhile, Ranjith’s claim that the general council members of the Academy did not attend the parallel meeting has fallen flat. Mathrubhumi News has received the minutes of the meeting where the members are mentioned. Evidence shows that nine out of 15 members attended the general council meeting.

This meeting took place on the penultimate day, December 14 of the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala where members sought the removal of Ranjith from his position as chairman of the Academy. When this meeting was going on, Ranjith was present in his room next door to the meeting venue. Ranjith had claimed that such a meeting never took place.

The minutes of this meeting are now out. The minutes clearly state that the members agreed that Ranjith’s one-sided and undemocratic stance should end. It states that the Chairman is constantly making comments that bring disrespect to the academy and the government. Therefore, steps must be taken either to correct him or remove him from the position, the minutes state. 

Trouble began when award-winning film director Biju resigned from the post of director of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation following the curt remarks made by Academy chairman and film director Ranjith about Biju’s film that was screened at the 28th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala which got over on Friday.

Soon there was a revolt against Ranjith when nine out of the 15 council members of the Academy openly lashed out at him and demanded that he has to step down from the chairman’s post, if not he should correct himself.

But Ranjith shot down the demand and said all that he said was his personal opinion and that was said to the media at his house.

Ranjith appeared to have got support when the CPI-M state secretary M.V.Govindan said nothing much needs to be looked into what is being said about Ranjith, as he has done a good job organising the IFFK.

But now with Cherian saying he will intervene after December 23, it seems efforts are being made to cool down tempers and if the detractors of Renjith decide to stick to their stand, then it could be a tough task for Cherian.

(With IANS inputs)