VD Satheesan is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala on May 18, Monday. Ever since the Congress High Command conveyed their decision to choose Satheesan as the state's CM, the public, in general, and those from the film industry have expressed their satisfaction for the decision. Joining them in support of the choice is director Sathyan Anthikad, known for helming Sandesam and many other films in Malayalam.
The filmmaker shared a long note on Facebook, praising the new CM-designate and his qualities. In the post, titled 'Satheesan Enna Sandesam' (Satheesan the Message), Sathyan Anthikad shared that he is delighted about the choice of the Kerala CM. The filmmaker also reminisced about his former meeting with VD Satheesan where he got to know a thing or two about the politician's personal and professional side.
"In a function I attended, he shared an experience related to the film Sandesam. Sreenivasan's character in Sandesam, Prabhakaran Kottappalli, is a lawyer, but he does not go to the court. There is a scene in the climax where Prabhakaran realises the truth about life and goes to the court to practice as a lawyer, having spent a good part of his life in the name of politics and under the impression that he could turn it into a profession. Satheesan told me that he joined a popular advocate as a junior the day after he watched the film. However, he came back to politics," Sathyan Anthikad wrote.
According to Sathyan, the Kerala CM embodies the core message of his iconic political satire, which also stars Jayaram, Thilakan, Siddique, and Kaviyoor Ponnamma, among others. Substantiating his point, Sathyan wrote, "In the climax of Sandesam, Thilakan says, 'Politics is good when good people deal with it.' Satheesan is one of those good people."
As per Sathyan, the CM of Kerala is someone who can disappear into his solitude even when he is amidst a crowd. The director also highlighted the CM's habit of reading. "When he does not have programs that last until midnight, he has said that he would would read at least 100 pages before going to sleep. The benefit of this is reflected in his words and actions," Sathyan added.
Sathyan said that today's leaders do not understand that politics has evolved, just like cinema and society. "Satheesan is the leader of the present generation; students and youngsters wanted him to be the CM the most. I have felt that a political leader should have certain uncompromising perspectives; only Satheesan has those qualities in Congress," the director opined.
Calling him "a leader who speaks out against communalism without any hesitation," Sathyan said, "When leaders of two communities criticise Satheesan, his image goes up in people's minds. Personally, I like Ramesh Chennithala a lot as well. However, today's Keralam needs Satheesan's leadership."
The filmmaker ended his note by expressing his regret about not having Sreenivasan around when someone who embodies the core message of his film has become the CM-designate.