Actor Sreenivasan

#Actor #Sreenivasan

The demise of actor Sreenivasan is a great loss to Malayalam cinema. He was a vibrant presence in the Malayalam film industry for more than four decades as an actor, screenwriter, director and producer. 

A rare artist who brought the lives and thoughts of the common man to the silver screen with the subtlety of humor, his characters were able to make people laugh while also making them think and slowly question the absurdities of society. He presented works of art that were so close to the daily lives of Malayalis.

In an era when it was suspected that goodness was fading, Sreenivasan's presence was a great relief. His artistic work, which was combined with simplicity and humanity, influenced generations. As an artist who conveyed the right values ​​through laughter, he will always live in the hearts of Malayalis. Heartfelt tributes to this great artist.

- K. A. Solaman

Targeting parody

#Targeting #parody

Parody songs have always been a powerful and legitimate form of political expression, especially in Kerala’s rich cultural tradition. Satire, exaggeration and musical parody are tools through which ordinary people question authority, expose hypocrisy and register dissent without violence. To suddenly brand parody as an offence, merely because it unsettles those in power or embarrasses a ruling dispensation, is a dangerous assault on freedom of expression. 

Devotional tunes, folk rhythms and popular songs have historically been adapted to comment on social and political realities, and this has never diminished faith or culture. On the contrary, it has strengthened public awareness. Treating parody as a crime is not moral policing, but political insecurity masquerading as hurt sentiment.

The latest outrage against parody songs appears less about protecting religious feelings and more about silencing criticism. If such complaints are entertained, it would open a slippery slope where legendary artists like Kalabhavan Mani and countless satire performers would be retrospectively branded offenders for doing exactly what society once applauded them for.

Thousands earn their livelihood today through parody content on television and digital platforms, and their work resonates because it reflects public perception. Targeting parody is an abnormal, undemocratic approach that betrays intolerance to humour and dissent. Those demanding police action are not defenders of faith or culture, but haters of criticism who fear the mirror that satire holds up before them.

-K A Solaman

Mincing words

#Mincing #words

The repeated public statements by prominent actors that “the real conspirator is still free,” without naming anyone or producing new evidence, amount to speaking in riddles rather than standing by facts. If Manju Warrier or even the survivor Bhavana truly believe that a particular individual masterminded the 2017 assault and has escaped justice, moral courage demands clarity, not ambiguity. 

Courts decide on evidence, not insinuations. Floating vague accusations while withholding names only fuels speculation, prejudices public opinion, and undermines the very judicial process they claim to respect. Such beating around the bush creates an impression that the legal system is either incompetent or compromised, an allegation far too serious to be made casually.

More importantly, these statements risk dishonouring the court by suggesting that justice is deliberately incomplete while the case is still within the judicial framework. If there is credible material pointing to an unpunished conspirator, the proper place to present it is before the court, not in press conferences or interviews. Public posturing without legal substantiation weakens faith in institutions and reduces a grave crime to a tool for moral signalling. 

Silence should be backed by due process, or speech  should we supported by evidence and accountability. These are the only responsible choices. Anything in between is not bravery; it is evasion.

-K A Solaman

Magical Hiding Place

#Magical hiding Place

For two full weeks, the mighty Kerala Police, armed with modern technology, surveillance systems, and an unmatched talent for conducting intensive press conferences, tirelessly searched for MLA Rahul Mamkootathil. They combed forests, scanned highways, peeped into resorts, and perhaps even checked under a few mattresses. Yet the honourable MLA remained as invisible as a solar eclipse during monsoon.

And then, in a twist befitting a comedy serial, Rahul calmly walked into a polling booth in Palakkad, pressed the button, and walked out. He thus politely reminding us that while the police couldn’t find him for 14 days, he could find the polling station in just a few minutes. A huge police force was deployed after his arrival was anticipated, not while he was missing. The irony sparkles brighter than their star badges.

Since the police spent two weeks returning empty-handed, the MLA should do the public a favour and reveal this magical hiding place, that perfect spot where even the Kerala Police’s famed with  scientific investigation cannot reach. It will be a great public service, especially for those planning anticipatory bail. After all, if our police cannot find a well-known politician within the state, common people might also appreciate knowing where to disappear when life gets complicated.

In the end, the Kerala Police failed to find the man. But the polling booth found him. Perhaps, next time, instead of searching the state, they should simply wait at the nearest election.

-K A Solaman

Striking irony

#Striking #irony

The brutal rape and killing of the two young girls at Valayaar shocked the conscience of society, yet the public outrage and organised agitation that followed were far less intense compared to the protests triggered by the assault on a well-known cinema actress. This discrepancy raises uncomfortable questions about the selective sensitivity of certain activist groups. 

When the victims are poor, voiceless children from marginalised backgrounds, the response seems muted. But when the survivor is a public figure with visibility and media reach, the same organisations suddenly become hyperactive. This unequal response suggests a partisan approach where the identity of the victim, rather than the severity of the crime, becomes the yardstick for concern.

It is undeniable that publicity plays a major role in shaping modern-day agitations. Some activists appear more eager to engage when a case offers media coverage, public attention, and political mileage. The tragedy of Valayaar did not receive the sustained spotlight that a celebrity-related case naturally attracts, and thus failed to energise the same voices that otherwise claim to fight for women’s rights universally.

The irony is striking. Activism itself seems influenced by visibility, and not by the magnitude of suffering. This selective outrage exposes a troubling truth. that in the arena of public protest, even human rights issues can be overshadowed by the lure of attention and relevance.

K. A Solaman

Needed unbase policing

#Needed.unbiased policing.

Sir,

Former State Police Chief T.P. Senkumar’s criticism strikes at the core of what an impartial criminal investigation must be. His contention that actor Dileep was arraigned without proper or admissible evidence, based on what he saw during his brief return as State Police Chief, highlights serious concerns about the “arrest-first-find-evidence-later” approach. 

When a former DGP states that investigators worked with a predisposed condition rather than an open mind, it reflects the danger of letting public pressure, political noise, or emotional  colour to a criminal probe. Senkumar’s warning that no investigation team should ever fabricate evidence is a reminder that rule of law collapses the moment investigators begin shaping facts to suit predetermined conclusions. The recent verdict naturally invites scrutiny of earlier assumptions, and his remarks have become all the more relevant today.

Equally significant is how parts of the media conducted themselves over the last eight years. Kerala’s news channels repeatedly aired speculative, sensationalised stories in the name of supporting the survivor, but often ended up fishing in troubled waters. The channels amplifying unverified theories and prejudging the accused. The present verdict is undeniably a setback to that style of trial-by-media, and their current reactions reflect that discomfort. It's fun to watch the media cry now.

Emotional responses, like the comment by MLA Uma Thomas invoking her late husband’s “unsatisfied soul,” have no place in judicial processes. The courts work on evidence, and not on metaphysics. Moreover, the selective outrage over issues such as publication of the survivor’s image is glaring. The legal yardstick used against Rahul Easwar should logically apply to others who violated the same law. 

Senkumar’s views, read in this broader context, underline the urgent need for unbiased policing and responsible journalism, free from prejudice, theatrics, and double standards.

K A Solaman

The police must intervene

#The #Police Must Intervene

A report on a Malayalam television channel shows people fighting in the street and states that the police are not intervening due to the lack of a formal complaint. This approach is unacceptable.

When people are fighting in public and disturbing public order, the police cannot remain mere spectators.  According to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), fighting in public is considered a breach of public order, an offense punishable by law. 

These laws authorize and obligate the police and the magistrate to intervene immediately, disperse the crowd, stop the fight, and take action against the troublemakers. The police do not need a written complaint to act; they can intervene on their own initiative as soon as public peace is threatened.

As soon as public peace is threatened, even by a simple altercation between two people, the police have a legal obligation to intervene without delay. It is essential that these provisions be strictly enforced to maintain public order and prevent citizens from being forced to witness scenes of chaos in the streets.

- K A Solaman