Poojappura Central Prison plays host to celebrities

Over the past few months, several Mollywood and Kollywood stars visited the jail in connection with the launch of its various facilities or as part of the festive celebrationsThe Poojappura Central Jail in the state���s capital has been the centre of some star attraction of late with the inmates being treated to frequent visits by Mollywood and Kollywood celebrities. Over the past few months, Indrajith, Pasupathy, Murali Gopy, Lena and Mallika are some of the actors who had visited the jail in connection with the launch of its various facilities or as part of the festive celebrations. The most recent celebrity-visit was when actress Remya Nambeesan turned up to kick off the week-long Jail Day celebrations aimed at showcasing the inmates��� talents in sports and literature.Jail superintendent B Pradeep says the purpose of these visits is more than just a publicity stunt. ���When such people come and interact with them, they feel they are part of society. When they see the artists��� cooperation and hear them speak at such events, it goes a long way in changing their destructive mentality to a constructive one,��� he says.Moreover the official also explains that the visits have benefited both parties. ���The actors and directors who have visited the jail tell us that their perspective of what a jail has often changed after they come here and that it also helps them while doing a film based on the prisons and prisoners,��� says Pradeep.In a first of its kind function, director M A Nishad had organised the audio launch of his film, No. 66 Madura Bus, at the prison in June with actors Pasupathy and Mallika in attendance.���The message of the movie was about the isolation that prisoners��� families face from our society and it was only apt that we did something that would throw light on this issue,��� Nishad had told us. Actress Sona Nair, who was part of the Onam and Christmas celebrations at the Poojappura Jail and the New Year celebration in Attakulangara Sub Jail, says, ���You always have a sense of sorrow when you enter a jail, even if it���s as a guest for an event.���But when they see film or TV personalities, even though there isn���t a visible outburst of happiness, I guess there is a sense of contentment on their faces.���Talking about her experience as a judge for the floral arrangement competition during last Onam, she says, ���I spend some time at a cell block where the officials introduced me to all the inmates. They told me interesting tales about each other and how they felt when someone comes visiting and is part of what they are doing.���Incidentally, most of the celebrity visits have been to encourage the work done by the inmates. Tamil actor Cheran and Mukta had come last year to inaugurate the commercial production of chapathis, while Indrajith, Lena and Murali Gopy launched the sale of chilly chicken from the jail.The celebrities��� safety has never been an issue on the prison premises that houses close to 1,100 inmates.���Even the actors say that they feel much safer attending programmes here compared to inauguratingany public store or function,��� says Pradeep.