ChatGPT gaffe during award ceremony? Doubts emerge over Mohanlal's Kumaranasan verse

NEW DELHI: Actor Mohanlal’s speech after receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award from President Droupadi Murmu was infectiously profound. The speech was all over the news and went viral on the internet, bringing praises from all quarters for the legendary actor.

However, discussions also erupted on social media after many found that the two verses made by Mohanlal, purported to be from the Malayalam poem ‘Veena Poovu’ written by Kumaranasan, were found to be fake.

Poetry lovers and experts indulged in discussions on social media, saying that the lines 'Chitayilajnnu pooyathumallo, chiramanoharamaya poovithu' were not from ‘Veena Poovu’. There were even references to it being Changampuzha or P. Bhaskaran's work. Some even expressed doubts about whether the actor fell into the trap of ChatGPT. Netizens are now on a mission to find the creator behind the lines, which they believe is not Kumaranasan.

The award was presented to Mohanlal by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held in Vigyan Bhavan on Tuesday. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described Mohanlal as the "real OG" and a great actor.

The award was given in recognition of Mohanlal's outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. After filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan received it in 2004, this is the first time in two decades that Malayalam cinema has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.