Malayalam filmmakers Dr Biju and Shruthi Sharanyam have responded strongly to internationally acclaimed veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s controversial and 'problematic' statements at the Kerala Film Policy Conclave, where he questioned the merit of state-sponsored film schemes for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and women filmmakers. He had argued for mandatory training for beneficiaries and suggested a reduction in funding to curb what he called potential misuse of public money.
Three-time National Award-winning director Dr Biju, himself a member of the Scheduled Caste community, took issue with Adoor’s view that these filmmakers need formal training before being allowed to make films. “If countless individuals in this country have been able to make films relying solely on creative instinct without any formal training, then similarly, people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women too should be able to make films here,” Dr Biju said. “The belief that they must first undergo training stems from viewing them through a particular kind of lens that sets them apart as different.” Citing his own journey, 15 films across languages and countries, three National Awards, and over thirty international honours, he argued that lived experience and artistic commitment are not the exclusive domain of the privileged.
Shruthi, who made her directorial debut with B 32 Muthal 44 Vare under a state initiative for women filmmakers, also issued a detailed rebuttal. Addressing Adoor directly, she clarified that the selection process was rigorous and far from a handout. “Our scripts were selected through a competition that lasted nearly a year, with multiple rounds and separate juries,” she wrote. “The 1.5 crore rupees weren’t given to us personally. It went to the KSFDC, which managed all aspects of production. Many of us ended up spending from our own pockets.”
Shruthi described the personal and professional sacrifices she had to make during the project and noted that despite the film’s positive reception, no producer has since come forward to back her next script. "Having Chitralekha Film Co-operative and K Ravindran Nair on your side was part of your good fortune, Sir. Not everyone has that privilege, especially not women and those who have been pushed to the margins,” she said, referring to the co-operative he established in the 1960s and a major patron of Malayalam parallel cinema, respectively.
She added that while she was open to viewing Adoor’s remarks in a constructive light, she wished he had watched their films before passing judgment. “The values a film tries to communicate are what make it unique. In that sense, all the films produced through this government initiative are unique.”