Sreekumaran Thampi alleges Mohanlal and Mammootty sidelined him, claims power politics shaped Malayalam cinema

Veteran lyricist and director Sreekumaran Thampi has made allegations about the Malayalam film industry, accusing top stars like Mohanlal and Mammootty of sidelining him and shaping the industry through power politics.

In a candid conversation with reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Sreekumaran Thampi expressed his disappointment with the dominance of stardom, which he believes altered the direction of Malayalam cinema. Further talking about the sexual allegations against Siddique, he said, “If he has done it, then it is hundred percent wrong, same is the case with Mukesh. I am not here to cover up both of them, but this kind of response is wrong. Malayalam cinema is on the verge of getting destroyed due to allegations made by several junior artists.”


He also praised those responsible for the formation of the WCC, which eventually led to the establishment of the Hema Committee. However, he criticized the delay in unveiling the report for over four years, saying, “Only they know if this was done to protect certain individuals.”

Sreekumaran Thampi revealed that he was one of the first few to be sidelined in the industry, as power equations shifted dramatically with the rise of superstars. He claimed that actors like Mohanlal and Mammootty wielded significant influence over which filmmakers would direct and which producers would work on their projects. In one instance, he alleged that he was forced to demote actor Ratheesh to the role of a villain in ‘Munnettam’ and cast Mammootty as the lead, all due to the internal politics of the industry.

He also shed light on the issue of pay disparity, particularly between male and female actors, stating that the advent of superstars worsened this gap. Sreekumaran Thampi pointed out that in the earlier days of Malayalam cinema, there was much less disparity between the pay of legendary stars like Sheela and Prem Nazir. However, with the rise of male superstars, heroines found it difficult to achieve the same level of popularity and earnings.

Sreekumaran Thampi further alleged that the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) used its power to suppress the Malayalam Cine Technicians' Association (MACTA) at its peak, further consolidating the influence of a few stars over the industry. Despite these challenges, he acknowledged that the industry has seen some improvement with the rise of new, upcoming actors.

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