THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Director and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal has come out to back veteran film maker Adoor Gopalakrishan, who was harshly censured the other day by BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan over his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I’m feeling ashamed when a Malayali is speaking such language. May be, he thinks of gaining publicity through verbally abusing Adoor,” he commented.

Kamal said the BJP leader should have had the common sense to think that he was speaking against a man who has been honoured with Padmabhooshan, Phalke award and the one who is loved by all film lovers.

“How can we call such a person, who asked Adoor what gains he eyed by criticising the Centre, a politician? All such politicians are criminals and anti-nationals. When they say that people voted to favour the chanting of Jai Shri Ram, their agenda becomes clear,” he said.

Kamal opined that all cultural leaders in Kerala had clear visions and stands and they are being selective attacked. “As a film personality, I have strong resentment in this case and I will oppose such attacks against artistes,” he added.

On Thursday 49 film personalities including Adoor Gopalakrishnan had written a letter to the prime minister, expressing their worries over “using Jai Shri Ram slogan provocatively and as a clarion call for mob killings”. Soon after this, Gopalakrishnan came out to criticise Adoor, saying that if he could not tolerate Jai Shri Ram chanting, he might go to the moon.