Govt to formally invite Mohanlal

KOCHI July 25: Culture Minister A.K. Balan has said that the government will on Wednesday formally invite actor Mohanlal as the chief guest for the State Film Awards presentation function to be held in Thiruvananthapuram next month.

Reacting to the recent controversies with more than 100 film personalities issuing a statement in protest against the Culture Department’s decision to invite the superstar as chief guest, he said that culture or cinema should not be used as a platform for settling personal scores.

“It looks like the objection is towards him being invited as chief guest. We have had chief guests in film award functions in previous years too.

Even those who signed the letter have now said that they did not mention his name at all. The best actor award winner Indrans also has said that he is proud to share the stage with Mr. Mohanlal.

The government will accept all creative criticisms. Here, a controversy was created even before the invitation was sent,” he said.