Mohanlal unable to answer questions effectively; casting couch exists, says B Unnikrishnan

Kochi: B. Unnikrishnan, General Secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and well-known director, has clarified his stance on the government’s film policy formulation committee. He confirmed that he will continue his role in the committee and welcomes any complaints against him, stating that the government has a clear position on the matter. He emphasised that he is part of the committee as FEFKA general secretary and not as B. Unnikrishnan.

He explained that he represents the interests of 21 different sectors within Malayalam cinema in the policy-making process. He questioned how the policy could ignore the collective opinions of these sectors. 

“AMMA does not have a clear organisational structure. They may claim that this association is meant for very limited purposes, and that might be true. However, when it comes to addressing serious public issues, this loose structure can become a liability. Mohanlal is not flexible in terms of organisational matters and seems unable to handle detailed questions effectively,” he said.

“It is unclear whether the term "power group" is used as a statement or a conclusion in the Hema Committee report, or if it is meant figuratively. Cinema has always had strong alliances. There are production houses that consistently produce big films, and there are directors, writers, and actors who work exclusively with them,” Unnikrishnan commented on the ‘power group’ controversy.

“Claiming that there is no casting couch in Malayalam cinema would be ignoring reality. Malayalam cinema has a long history, and instances of casting couches have been seen and heard about many times throughout this history. This issue exists in every industry. We should take a stand against this practice in Malayalam cinema. While we might wish for a perfect, utopian future, achieving that ideal is very challenging,” he added.

Regarding the Hema Committee, which conducted data collection on industry harassment, Unnikrishnan asserted that FEFKA is calling for the full disclosure of the report, including all names involved, regardless of their status. He also stressed the importance of respecting women who speak out about harassment.