Ever since the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) controversially restored the membership of actor Dileep, who is an accused in the actress attack case, a section of the Malayalam movie industry voiced its displeasure. After the body reasoned that the hasty decision to suspend Dileep was taken without hearing his side, late actor Thilakan's daughter, Sonia, alleged that the artist guild had no such thoughts when her father was targeted by vested interests in the industry. Thilakan was banned by the AMMA without seeking any explanation from him.
Sonia who slammed AMMA’s double standards had recently released a letter written by Thilakan years ago to actor Mohanlal, then general secretary of AMMA. Sonia talks to Onmanorama about her father and also about the ongoing controversy.
Why did you release your father's letter so late?
Right now I have no links with AMMA. I have no intention to disgrace Dileep or confront AMMA. The association had clarified that they had suspended actor Dileep without hearing his side. I saw my father go through mental agony when he was banned by the association. AMMA ruthlessly banished him and didn’t give him a chance to explain his stance. My father’s words that AMMA was ‘trouble’ had provoked them. He had written this letter to Mohanlal when he was denied the chance to work. He, however, didn’t even receive a reply. The artist in Thilakan was subjected to grave injustice. I decided to release this letter as the association meted out different treatment to Dileep and my father.
Dileep doesn’t wish to be active in AMMA until his innocence is proven. Your thoughts on that?
Though I am speaking on behalf of my father, I think the stand taken by Dileep is commendable. There is a sense of virtuousness in saying that he would return only after proving his innocence. But AMMA is still not exonerated. Even when Dileep spoke, it is highly condemnable that the office bearers of AMMA have chosen to remain silent about the issue. I think they chose silence as they do not have much to say.
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Do you think AMMA should consider the opinion of the public as well?
AMMA is an association of those who find their livelihood through art. Artists definitely have a responsibility towards the society. Even political leaders have come out against AMMA’s decision. Though chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan did not react to the issue publicly, he has supported my father in one of his Facebook posts. CPM leader VS Achuthanandan had called my father when he was banned by the association. He asked, ‘Thilakan, is there anything I should do for you?’. My father replied that he could do whatever he thought was right.
CPM's Kadakampally Surendran and scholar Sukumar Azhikode, and many others had stood with my father then. Time has proven that my father was right. So AMMA has the moral obligation to rectify itself.
Mohanlal had remained a silent spectator then and now. What is your take on that?
I don’t think Mohanlal alone can bring significant changes in AMMA’s decisions and stands. Maybe that is the reason why he chooses to keep mum. My father had remarked that Mohanlal didn’t say anything when he was banned as he was "resting his voice". But now as the president of AMMA, he should give up silence. My father loved Mohanlal dearly. More than his own children, my father had called him ‘son’. I don’t think all those issues had affected their personal relationship at all. When my father went to the filming of ‘Ividam Swagamanu’, Mohanlal came out of his room and embraced him. My father’s eyes used to well up whenever he spoke about it.
My father was distressed when Mohanlal couldn’t make it to my sister’s wedding. He wouldn’t have been so sad had one of his own children not attended that wedding. Such was the kind of love that my father had for Mohanlal.