Janaki VS State of Kerala: MB Padmakumar Slams Sibi Malayil Over ‘Small Film' Remark
'Who told Sibi Malayil sir that my film is a 'small film' or an 'award film'? If there are no superstars or if it's not a big-budget film, it automatically becomes a small film, is that it? And the audience shouldn't see it, sir?" Padmakumar said in the video.
The filmmaker also criticised the CBFC for what he described as a prejudiced decision-making process. 'Isn't this exactly what the Censor Board also did? Didn't they approach it with prejudice without even watching the film? Do you know something, sir? This is a film I made by toiling for the last seven months, sacrificing my food and sleep," he said.
He further alleged that Sibi's comments had caused a distributor, who had initially agreed to release the film, to withdraw support and snatch their chance at a theatrical release. He was heard saying, 'After all was done, I finally got the film censored. I got it done, feeling defeated and scared. After that, it had to reach theatres, but it had no superstars. Without superstars, it's incredibly difficult to get a theatre screen, no distributor comes forward."
'With great difficulty and by paying from my own pocket, I had arranged for a person to distribute it. But do you know what the distributor told me after hearing your comment? He called me and said, 'You told that this was a big film. But now Sibi Malayil himself has said it's a small film. I am not investing in an award film.' Sir, you have thrown sand in my rice bowl," Padmakumar added.
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