Celluloid controversy unwarranted.

Controversies over Celluloid, a film based on the life of JC Daniel and directed by Kamal are unwarranted. A conspiracy between Karunakaran’s son, daughter and the producer of the film cannot be ruled out. It is the present practice to make controversy and thus attract people to the theatre. The minister in charge of cultural affairs K C Joseph denouncing the film and that too, without seeing it, is awful. Seemingly he is a minister unfit to the post.

In fact there are no direct remarks against Karunakaran in the film. The original Ramakrishna Iyer in his office may be worse than the one depicted by Siddique in the film. Bureaucracy was that much shoddier on those days. If Kamal has cast Karunakaran as a ferocious speeding minister whose police men in the pilot vehicle abusing the road-side dwellers, then it would have been a spot on attempt to put Karunakaran in bad light. Kamal has not done anything like that.

Kamal has created history in Malayalam film industry and this one film alone is sufficient to remember him in future.  The portrayal of the’ Pulaya girl’ as heroine in the original film is marvellous. A special praise is warranted to the actress who has meticulously done the job.

K A Solaman
Deccan Chronicle published on 26-2-12