Renowned Malayalam filmmaker and actor, Balachandra Menon, has raised his voice in dismay over the exclusion of his films from the prestigious Keraleeyam Film Festival. Despite a career spanning over 45 years in the industry, Menon expressed his disappointment that none of his films have been selected for screening at the ongoing festival.
In his note accompanying the video, Balachandra Menon stated, "A special note on the Malayalam Film Festival at Thiruvananthapuram in connection with Keralappiravi." He emphasized that his concern is not personal but arises from his role as a concerned citizen of the artistic and cinematic community.
Balachandra Menon questioned the criteria for film selection at the festival, pointing out that some films that never even saw a theatrical release were afforded the opportunity to be showcased.
In his video message shared on his official Facebook handle, the filmmaker specifically mentioned films like 'Achuvettante Veedu,' a feminist-themed movie, 'Chiriyo Chiri,' a comedy film, and his own creation 'April 18,' which were notably excluded from the festival. He mentioned his significant contributions to the Kerala government's Kerala State Film Development Corporation and Chitranjali, underscoring that his National award-winning film, 'Samantharangal,' was even filmed at Chitranjali studio.
The filmmaker went on to question whether the exclusion of his films from the Keraleeyam Film Festival might be linked to the fact that his works often uphold themes of nationalism and family values. He appealed to the Kerala government, emphasizing that India is a democratic country where artistic freedom and diversity should be celebrated and respected, rather than confined to a single perspective.
On the work front, Balachandra Menon’s previous outing, as an actor, was with the Joju George starrer ‘Pulimada’