Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has expressed disappointment over a well-known actress allegedly demanding a hefty fee of Rs. 5 lakh to choreograph the welcome song for the upcoming State School Arts Festival. The minister added that the actress showed both arrogance and an insatiable greed for money.

The minister revealed that the actress, who rose to fame through the Youth Festival, had agreed to teach a 10-minute dance routine for the song but asked for a hefty remuneration in return.
The state-level arts festival is scheduled to take place in January 2025. “I was deeply pained by this incident. When I asked whether it was possible for her to teach a 10-minute dance routine to the children, she agreed. But later, she demanded a fee of Rs 5 lakh. It was disheartening," Sivankutty said. However, the minister did not reveal the name of the actress.

Shivankutty further stated that, instead of paying such a large sum, he decided to enlist more affordable and dedicated dance instructors. “There are plenty of dance teachers who are not motivated by financial greed. We have decided to proceed with them to teach the dance," the minister added.

The minister also criticized the actress for showing arrogance, stating, "Some film stars, who have risen to prominence through the School Arts Festival, now show disdain towards Kerala. They forget the roots from which they have come up." 

Shivankutty emphasized that the actress’s behaviour was disrespectful to the students. "These are the very students who participate in the festival, aiming to showcase their talents. It is unfortunate that such people, who once relied on Kerala's culture to build their careers, now show arrogance toward the state," the minister remarked.