Sreekumaran Thampi defends Adoor Gopalakrishnan, slams Pushpavathi

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran filmmaker and lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi has come out in support of acclaimed director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, criticising singer Pushpavathy for interrupting his recent speech. Speaking to the media, Thampi said that Adoor is an internationally renowned filmmaker and a recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and that it was inappropriate for anyone to interrupt him mid-speech.

“It is disrespectful for anyone, regardless of who they are, to speak over Adoor while he is addressing an audience,” said Thampi. “There is nothing wrong with stating that cinema should be taught. What Adoor said is being misrepresented, and the media seems to be taking a one-sided stance. Many in the media do not understand what cinema truly is. It’s not just a lecture, it is a craft.”

Thampi added that the idea of introducing cinema education was discussed during the previous Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, when A K Balan was Minister for Culture. He stated that Adoor had been one of the key figures in shaping that discussion with the minister. 

Speaking from his experience as a filmmaker with 6 decades in the industry, Thampi also questioned the use of public funds in recent government-backed productions. “I’ve watched four films made with government assistance. I don’t believe ₹1.5 crore was actually spent on any of them. I’m not alleging misappropriation, but rather, a lack of experience. As someone who has produced 26 feature films and 47 documentaries, I can estimate production costs accurately.”

Commenting on Pushpavathy, Thampi said, “They may well be a visionary, but interrupting a veteran like Adoor mid-speech only reflects poor understanding. They could have waited until he had finished. Their actions seemed more performative than constructive. I had only seen them once, taking a photograph at a railway station. I’m not familiar with their work, nor have I heard their songs. Are these really people from the world of cinema?”

Thampi also weighed in on cultural appointments and industry trends, noting that leadership of institutions such as the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Sahitya Akademi often follows political lines. “Typically, ruling parties appoint their preferred individuals. In coalition governments, positions are shared.”

He further commented on changing trends in cinema: “Songs are no longer essential in films. Many films in world cinema do not feature songs. And yes, it’s true that some attend film festivals simply to watch explicit scenes,” he added.