Director Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s comments on SC, women filmmakers spark industry outrage

Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has courted controversy with remarks made at the Kerala government's Film Policy Conclave, where he questioned the current approach to providing financial support for women and Scheduled Caste (SC) filmmakers.

During his address, Adoor criticised the allocation of ₹1.5 crore (₹15 million) to SC and ST filmmakers through the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), warning that such funding could be vulnerable to misuse. “I had earlier pointed out to the Chief Minister that this amount could lead to corruption. But no corrective action has been taken,” he said.

Calls for training and reassessment of funding criteria

He suggested that instead of giving the entire amount to a single filmmaker, it would be more effective to divide it among three recipients, with ₹50 lakh each.

He further advocated for compulsory training for SC candidates, proposing a minimum of three months of instruction in budgeting and basic film production before any grants are released.

Adoor also made a remark that sparked outrage: “Don’t give funds just because someone is a woman,” though he acknowledged that many talented women filmmakers are now entering the industry.

Criticism of current funding model

He went on to argue that government funds, sourced from taxpayers, should not be distributed without clear standards. “Many believe that merely applying makes them eligible to receive money to make a film. That’s a wrong notion,” he said.

The filmmaker also criticised student protests at the K.R. Narayanan Institute of Visual Science and Arts, accusing them of undermining institutional discipline and contributing to the institute's decline.

Industry reaction

Adoor’s statements drew immediate criticism from several participants, including director Dr Biju.

Many within the film community and civil society have condemned the remarks, calling them regressive and out of step with the conclave’s goal of shaping a more inclusive film policy.