Politician turned actor and present Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), Rajmohan Unnithan, had a stormy start to his Chairmanship earlier this year with several members protesting against his appointment due to a perceived lack of association with the industry. He speaks to The News Minute on his department, controversies and present Kerala politics.
Controversial Appointment
There was huge criticism over your appointment as the Chairman of KSFDC. There were mass resignations from the corporation too. How do you reply to them?
Till I took charge as KSFDC chairman, most of the people who were in this post got it through the special interest of Ganesh Kumar. Even his dad had complained about it. When I took charge, the main complaint was that I was a person who has nothing to do with Malayalam cinema. So if that is the case, a drunkard should become the chairman of Beverages Corporation. According to me, a person with good administrative powers should head a corporation.
Another criticism you raised was over private businesses like SFC restaurant in KSFDC headquarters?
This KSFDC building had all state film related departments including Censor Board office and National Film Development Corporation state office, but when Ganesh Kumar came as minister he asked all these departments to vacate the building and rented out one floor to the SFC fried chicken restaurant. This cannot be accepted at any cost as it is the headquarters of KSFDC. That is why I protested.
What are the problems in the Malayalam film industry?
The main problem of Malayalam cinema is lack of potential producers. If good producers are there, they won’t have to go for satellite rights.
A Rebel Congressman?
Would you call yourself a rebel Congressman?
I always say the truth and nobody likes the truth, it irritates others. That is why I may be called a rebel. Though the party did not give me any powerful position, I have never ever thought against the party.
Is Congress using BJP as a tool to defeat the LDF? Why is the Chief Minister silent on BJP’s propaganda?
Congress and BJP do not have any secret understanding to defeat LDF because BJP’s political agenda is communal and against secularism. Congress’s ideology itself is a secular nation.
The Chief Minister’s silence might have caused some misunderstanding and wrong interpretations in this context. Yes, the leaders should have been more careful while dealing with some issues as silence can be dangerously misinterpreted.
How do you see the BJP’s growth in Kerala?
Communal provocation is the BJP’s political propaganda. I am a Hindu. I follow all the rituals and traditions of a Hindu but respect all traditions. People should eat and wear what they want and they should live with freedom.
Former Congressman Cheriyan Philip created a storm by saying some women in Congress perform sexual favours?
I don’t have any comments on Philip’s post. You might remember the Manjeri issue where some of the Left workers blocked me and a woman who travelled with me. They alleged that we were involved in some immoral issues. We were going to Bangalore for a meeting, no other intentions were there. Many people here starve sexually; these are the ones who act as moral police. Moreover, a mature man and a woman willingly have every right to travel, live and have sex together; it’s personal and not others’ business.
Why should I react to Philip’s post? Many women Congress workers acted against me during the Manjeri issue. I know them very well.
In a recent TV discussion, you lashed out at Sasikala Teacher and she felt offended.
Recently when a Muslim kid was killed by a Hindu extremist in Kasaragod district, police discovered that the accused’s mobile phone had a lot of speeches given by Sasikala Teacher, which encouraged him to commit the crime. She doesn’t deserve to be a teacher. Her speeches are highly poisonous, invoking communal thoughts. Her speeches should be considered anti-national.
(Haritha John works with The News Minute. The article has been edited for length.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)