Following the huge public outcry over the dismal debut performance of superstar Mohanlal’s new band Lalisom, the actor on Monday told the Kerala government that the money collected — Rs16.3 million (Dh969,000) — would be returned.
In an email to State Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, the actor said that he will return the money that he took as expenses for staging the event.
“The events that unfurled after the event have pained me and I [hope] with me deciding to return the money, the issue will end,” the actor says in the email.
The band, right from when they started their programme on Saturday night at the inaugural ceremony of the 35th National Games, came under fire for their unprofessional presentation, and the issue went viral on social media.
Legislators cutting across political affiliations attacked the organisers for squandering public money.
Addressing reporters on Monday night, Radhakrishnan said that he was informed about the email from Mohanlal.
“I feel that a person like Mohanlal should not have been haunted like this because Mohanlal, the multifaceted personality that he is, comes once in a lifetime only. Now the government will look into his letter,” he said.
A day before the opening ceremony, Mohanlal had said that the speculation in the media that he had taken Rs20 million (Dh1.1 million) for the show was baseless and the truth was that he had only charged for the band’s expenses, while his appearance was for free.
A few legislators on Tuesday cut across political affiliations, and expressed their views on what the government should do.
While some of them said it would be a dishonour shown to the great actor if the government accepted the money, while Congress legislator K. Muraleedharan, said there was no harm in the government taking the money that has been offered.
Government chief whip P.C. George said the best that Mohanlal should do now is to keep silent and not to come out with any explanations.
George has sought a CBI probe into the manner in which money has been lavishly spent for the conduct of the event.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thompson, who by virtue of his post is also the chief coordinator of the 35th National Games, at a meeting of all the heads of committees, expressed his displeasure in the way the opening ceremony was conducted.
“This is a prestigious event and more care should have been taken. I just cannot ignore the various reports that has surfaced in the media about the conduct of the event. We will see that similar lapses should not take place when the closing ceremony is held on the 14th of this month,” said Thompson to reporters here, after the meeting.
Incidentally, during the meeting he expressed his astonishment when he heard that more than Rs1 million was spent for the conduct of the opening ceremony.
