Biases based on talent, gender, race and caste are a reality in the art and entertainment sector. In his latest interview with Onmanorama, ace Malayalam film director Vinayan revealed that lead female actors hesitate to share screen space with even talented actors like Suraj Venjarammoodu and Indrans.
Commenting on the colour discrimination the late actor Kalabhavan Mani experienced from several artistes in the Malayalam film industry Vinayan asserted that such bias is a hard reality in his field. “There are artistes – both men and women – who hesitated to work with Mani. However popular he became, whatever number of super-hit movies and stage shows he did, Mani was constantly being pulled back in the name of his colour,” Vinayan said.
Adding to it, the maestro revealed that filmmakers struggle to arrange female lead actors to work with award-winning actors like Indrans and Suraj Venjarammoodu. “Discrimination in cinema industry is not a story of the past. It is difficult to get good female leads to work with Indrans and Suraj even though they have proved their talent and won several awards. I know this situation well because I have done a lot of movies using fresh and junior actors. Actors may concede to the requests of experienced directors, but it is not the case with freshers or junior filmmakers who envisage a project with Suraj or Indrans. They don't get the dates of first-grade heroines at all,” Vinayan revealed.
Vinayan's upcoming flick 'Chalakkudikkaran Changathi', which is based on the life, struggles and death of Mani is all set to reach theatres on September 28. The movie discusses a few rows involving him and touches upon his mysterious death at the prime of his career. It also has a crucial scene depicting a real-life incident in which an actress refused to act with Mani on account of his looks.
