Malayalam superstar Mohanlal on MeToo

Gulf News

Kerala superstar and AMMA president Mohanlal sheds his thoughts on the burning issue and talks about his upcoming show Onnanu Nammal in UAE on December 7 for Kerala flood survivors

Transcript

00:00Mr. Mohanlal, can you tell us more about the show?

00:06The show is going to be a great show, that's the only thing I can say.

00:10We are connecting with the five elements, Punjab Buddhas.

00:14It's a five hour show, each segment will have 16 minutes.

00:18We are like fire, like water, like wind, so five elements.

00:22And we are trying to come out with something very big with laser.

00:27Again, every show is a normal show, but we have to highlight it.

00:31We'll come with a 3D mapping, so many gadgets are there now.

00:35So we are trying to come out with a very big laser show.

00:38You are the president of Amma, and you have in several interviews said that

00:42people are targeting you, as Mohanlal said this, and you said it hurt you a lot.

00:47What do you think should be done differently?

00:49The thing is that, maybe, Kerala, they know.

00:55Outside Kerala, only my name.

00:57When it comes, they don't know it's Amma or the president.

01:00Suddenly, Mohanlal means I have done something wrong.

01:04This is an association, and fortunately or unfortunately, I am the president.

01:09So I have to look after my association.

01:11We have a lot of people, around 450 people.

01:15They trust this association, and we are doing a lot of things.

01:18A lot of good things.

01:20Every month, they'll get 5,000 rupees.

01:24It's not an easy thing to send around 60, 70 people.

01:29And we are trying to make it 10,000 or 20,000, like that.

01:33So, and we are constructing houses for our colleagues.

01:37So it's a beautiful fraternity, and it's a very small association.

01:41So, and it is a very, like, you know, because of the artist,

01:46anything happens, they'll target on you.

01:49You think you're a soft target? Do you think you're...

01:51I don't mind.

01:53I have to say, this is not me, this is not Mohanlal.

01:56My position says so.

01:58So I have to look after, I have to safeguard my association.

02:02So sometimes we have to speak.

02:04Do you think this is a brand-building image also?

02:06Because Amma now is in the national debate.

02:08Everybody seems, from Bollywood actors, are commenting on it.

02:11Suddenly you are in focus. So is this a brand-building exercise?

02:15Let it happen.

02:17Golden Tongue?

02:19Let it be a big brand?

02:21Yes.

02:22Do you think it is one? It is necessary now?

02:24Something like that.

02:26See, we don't want to come in that limelight.

02:28We are doing good things.

02:30So, like this association with Shayanet and we are doing a show.

02:34We can just keep quiet.

02:36Just giving some money.

02:38It is a collective consciousness.

02:40So we have to associate people from all over the world.

02:43For a good cause, they can do so many things.

02:46It is again a gate crisis.

02:48So let it happen. We are doing good things.

02:51Do you think the WCC members, you said that they need not apologise.

02:55But they can always...

02:57Is there any change in that standard?

02:59What apology?

03:01No, you said in an interview, they need not apologise.

03:03If they want to come back, they can always follow the protocol.

03:07Somebody resigned from an association.

03:09You are also a member of an association.

03:11Somebody resigned.

03:13This is a process. They have to apply again.

03:16We don't have any grudges to anybody.

03:18But are you also this time careful that

03:20Amma's skit does not come under fire?

03:22No dance shall be...

03:24You have to take it little by little.

03:26See, this is your perception.

03:28We never focused on such things.

03:30It is their demand or their intelligence.

03:33They are proving that we have done something wrong.

03:35Nothing like that.

03:37If you are very particular, we will try to bring out a skit.

03:40At your request.

03:42Which is gender neutral?

03:44Let me put it, you make as much fun as you can.

03:46I have no idea. You have watched the show.

03:48If you watch the show, you will find some mistakes.

03:50I saw. I did.

03:52Come on. I am not going to show.

03:54We never focused on such things.

03:56There are many shows where we made fun of Lal.

03:58This is again...

04:00So you should take it in the spirit?

04:02Yes, 100%.

04:04That's called spirituality.

04:06It's like that.

04:08No, but Me Too, like you said,

04:10you just called it a certain trend.

04:12To be Me Too.

04:14Why would you say that? The whole world is waking up to it.

04:16There are women who are seriously suffering as well.

04:18We can also come out with Me Too.

04:20With gender.

04:22Gender wise, we should also start Me Too.

04:24Okay.

04:26Don't write on me.

04:28Then what do you mean?

04:30Nothing. I don't know.

04:32I cannot make a comment on that.

04:34Because when you experience,

04:36only you will have to talk about that.

04:38Otherwise, just giving a comment is not a right thing.

04:40I don't know about that.

04:42Much about that.

04:44But would you do anything differently, Mr. Lal?

04:46If you were to re-visit the episode,

04:48how Amma conducted itself,

04:50would you do it differently?

04:52I don't know.

04:54It is with the support of you people.

04:56With the support of all.

04:58We can build so many things.

05:00We are trying to come out with some great things.

05:02Let us wait. Let us watch.

05:04Brilliant. Last question.

05:06Drama is out in the UAE this Thursday.

05:08Apart from the show, of course,

05:10which we will watch.

05:12You need to tell us about the movie.

05:14It is open to mixed reviews.

05:16It is a very small film.

05:18It is a story happening in four days.

05:20We shot the film in the UK.

05:22But it has got a message.

05:24You watch the film.

05:26It is again a film.

05:28Are you still a part of Randa movie?

05:30We are trying to come out.

05:32There are small issues on the scripting.

05:36We are trying to sort it out.

05:38Let it happen.

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