"Who Is She...?": Adoor Gopalakrishnan Dismisses Singer Pushpavathy Amid SC/ST Remark (Image: X/chungking151994)

In a startling response to criticism from Dalit singer and activist Pushpavathy, veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has further inflamed controversy by publicly dismissing her in a televised interview.

Speaking to Asianet News following a heated exchange at the Kerala Government Film Conclave, Adoor said bluntly: “Who is she? I didn’t see her. Who is she to interrupt my speech?”

Even though Pushpavathy P.R. is a nationally acclaimed singer and composer from a Dalit background, with iconic songs like Chembavu Ponnellin Choro (Salt N’ Pepper) and Haalaake Maarunne (Sulaikha Manzil), her presence was casually dismissed by Adoor.

The remarks came after Pushpavathy vocally objected during Adoor’s address at the event, where he questioned the practice of allocating state funding to filmmakers from Scheduled Caste communities and women directors without, as he put it, “proper training.”

While the singer had attempted to challenge his stance in real time, Adoor’s post-event comments struck many as dismissive and laden with casteist undertones.

Several cultural figures and social media users condemned his attitude, accusing the filmmaker of silencing a prominent Dalit voice instead of engaging with legitimate criticism.

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At the centre of the controversy is Adoor’s critique of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation’s (KSFDC) initiative to support first-time filmmakers from marginalised backgrounds with ₹1.5 crore per project.

While ostensibly supporting inclusivity, Adoor questioned the selection process and implied that directors from Scheduled Castes and women should undergo formal training before being given creative control. “They need to be taught how a film is made. Just letting someone direct a film without guidance is not a good way of promoting them,” he said.

He continued, “Likewise, just because someone is a woman, they should not be allowed to direct a film. Women directors, too should be given training. There are some very good women directors. We need even more good women filmmakers.”

Many attendees, including filmmaker Dr. Biju, openly disagreed with his statements, asserting that marginalised creators don’t lack talent — they lack access and opportunity. Others described Adoor’s comments as reflective of an outdated, exclusionary mindset within the industry.

Adding fuel to the fire, Adoor also used his speech to reignite a contentious episode: the 2023 protests at the K.R. Narayanan Film Institute, where students accused him and then-director Shankar Mohan of caste discrimination and mishandling reservation policies.

Adoor described the agitations as a “filthy strike” and dismissed the students’ concerns, instead framing the protest as a breakdown in discipline. “Almost all heads of departments resigned and left. No one knows how the institute is functioning today,” he claimed. “Shankar Mohan’s only fault was trying to instil discipline.”

These remarks, made just over a year after both Adoor and Mohan stepped down from their posts amid national attention, were quickly criticised for lacking empathy and accountability.

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Kerala’s Minister for Cultural Affairs, Saji Cherian, strongly defended the KSFDC initiative, rejecting Adoor’s implications. “For nearly a century, SC/ST  filmmakers were denied a platform in Malayalam cinema. How many women directors do we have in the mainstream even today? This initiative is not a handout, it’s a long-overdue correction,” he said.

The minister noted that a qualified expert panel selected the recipients purely based on merit, and praised the resulting films as “exceptional.” He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to empowering gender minorities, Dalits, and creators with disabilities, emphasising that representation without condescension is the goal.

Adoor Gopalakrishnan, revered for classics like Elippathayam, Mukhamukham, and Mathilukal, remains one of India’s most decorated auteurs.

However, earlier in 2021, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, ONV Cultural Academy president, had defended the decision to honour Vairamuthu with the ONV Literary Award, even as allegations of sexual misconduct against the poet had surfaced through the #MeToo movement.

At the time, Adoor maintained that the award was based solely on literary merit and not on personal character, dismissing calls for the jury to reconsider its decision.