How Did Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Words on SC and Women Filmmakers Stir a Storm at Kerala’s Conclave?

Thiruvananthapuram- On August 3, the closing ceremony of the Kerala Film Policy Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram became a flashpoint of controversy following remarks by veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. His comments, perceived as dismissive and discriminatory toward Scheduled Caste (SC) and women filmmakers, ignited widespread condemnation from the film industry, social activists, and the public.

The conclave, held on August 2–3, was organized by the Kerala government to formulate a comprehensive and inclusive film policy, addressing issues such as gender equality, workplace safety, and support for marginalized communities.

The Kerala Film Policy Conclave aimed to create the state’s first comprehensive film policy through inclusive dialogue. Inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the event featured prominent figures from the Malayalam film industry, including actors Mohanlal and Suhasini Maniratnam, alongside international delegates from Germany, the UK, Poland, and Sri Lanka.

The conclave responded to long-standing demands for reform, spurred by the K. Hema Committee report, which highlighted systemic issues like gender discrimination and limited opportunities for marginalized groups. The Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) has played a pivotal role in promoting inclusivity through initiatives like the Cinema for Women Directors program, launched in 2019–20, which allocates ₹3 crore annually (₹1.5 crore per film) for women filmmakers, and a similar scheme for SC/ST filmmakers, providing ₹1.5 crore per project. These initiatives aim to address the historical underrepresentation of women and SC/ST communities in Malayalam cinema’s 98-year history.

What did Adoor Gopalakrishnan Say?

During his speech at the conclave’s closing ceremony, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, a pioneer of the new wave in Malayalam cinema, made several contentious remarks. He criticized the KSFDC’s allocation of ₹1.5 crore to individual SC/ST filmmakers, labeling it “excessive” and warning of potential corruption. He stated that he had previously raised this concern with the Chief Minister, but no corrective measures were taken.

Gopalakrishnan suggested redistributing the funds, proposing that ₹50 lakh be given to three filmmakers instead of ₹1.5 crore to one, to ensure broader opportunities. He further insisted that SC filmmakers undergo “at least three months of intensive training” under experts to learn budgeting and filmmaking basics, arguing that public funds, collected through taxes, should not be distributed arbitrarily. He noted that many believed applying alone entitled them to funding, calling this a “wrong notion.”

On the KSFDC’s Cinema for Women Directors program, Gopalakrishnan remarked that funds should not be given “just because someone is a woman.” While acknowledging the emergence of talented women filmmakers, he emphasized the need for training and merit-based funding, stating, “There are many good women directors. We need even more good women filmmakers.”

He also criticized the 2023 protests at the K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts, where he once served as chairman. The protests demanded the resignation of director Shankar Mohan over allegations of caste discrimination and violation of reservation norms. Gopalakrishnan called the protests “shameful” and “against discipline,” claiming they halted the institute’s progress toward becoming India’s top film school. Additionally, he suggested that film festivals like the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) should cater to “serious cinema lovers” through higher delegate fees, a stance previously criticized in 2014 for promoting elitism. He also lambasted the television industry, claiming it had lost artistic value and was producing “nightmares for viewers.”

The remarks drew immediate objections at the conclave. Filmmaker Dr. Biju and others attempted to respond but were unable to interrupt Gopalakrishnan’s speech. Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian, present at the event, directly rebutted the veteran filmmaker’s statements. Cherian defended the KSFDC’s funding schemes, emphasizing that SC/ST communities had been excluded from mainstream cinema for nearly a century.

He described the funding as one of the government’s best decisions, enabling new filmmakers from these communities to emerge. He clarified that recipients were selected through a rigorous process by an expert committee and that ₹1.5 crore was insufficient for quality filmmaking. Cherian also highlighted initiatives for women and transgender artists, stressing that the government would not backtrack on its inclusive film policy, which he described as a conscious effort to correct historical imbalances.

Gopalakrishnan’s comments faced sharp criticism from filmmakers, activists, and the public, who deemed them dismissive of efforts to democratize filmmaking and amplify underrepresented voices. Noted filmmaker Kamal called the remarks “highly unfortunate,” arguing that a filmmaker of Gopalakrishnan’s stature should not have spoken in such a manner at an event focused on inclusivity.

He emphasized that no one enters filmmaking without preparation or intent and that questioning opportunities for long-oppressed communities was disappointing. Pushpavathi PR, Vice Chairperson of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, defended the funding schemes, noting the historical exclusion of SC/ST communities and the government’s support for transgender filmmakers.

Singer-composer Pushpavathy Poypadathu highlighted the decades of oppression faced by SC/ST communities, stating that the Left government’s policy to support marginalized voices was a step toward justice. She condemned Gopalakrishnan’s remarks for overlooking this struggle. Dalit activist and Ambedkarite scholar Dinu Veyil criticized the remarks as reinforcing casteist stereotypes, questioning why Gopalakrishnan assumed SC/ST filmmakers were ignorant of public resource management.